Is nicotine good for your brain, solve it by walking, and every day is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

A highly stigmatized molecule due to its association with smoking has quietly been gaining some serious momentum as a healthy nootropic (a molecule used to enhance memory and cognition) and as a neuroprotective supplement. 

Yes, we’re talking about Nicotine. 

DISCLAIMER: I will make a scientific case for the neuroprotective benefits of nicotine, with little to no downside with low to moderate use in this segment, however, there are still laws that limit the purchase of nicotine containing products to those under legal age, and I am in no way advocating for the illegal purchase of nicotine containing products. 

Disentangling the Stigma of Nicotine Use

To even begin the conversation on nicotine, we must first disentangle the actual molecule known as nicotine; a naturally occurring phytochemical found in tobacco, from the actual habit of smoking, which is well documented to be one of the worst things one can do for their health. 

First, nicotine is simply a neuro-stimulant aka “stimulant”, just like caffeine. 

Whereas caffeine is a phytochemical found naturally occurring in foods like chocolate, tea, and most notably, coffee, nicotine is naturally occurring in tobacco. 

Nothing more. 

Nicotine has zero carcinogenic effects, and has absolutely nothing to do with the cancer causing effects of smoking. 

In fact, there is ample research that nicotine may actually be disease preventive, and the case could be made that it’s actually a better choice of stimulant over coffee, or pairs very well with caffeine if you want to yield its health benefits. 

So, to have an honest and objective conversation about nicotine, and the scientific research I’m going to present, we must first shape our perspective of nicotine away from any relation to the harmful effects of smoking, and simply as a stimulant from tobacco, akin to the relationship of caffeine and coffee. 

Different Receptors, Similar Dopamine Release 

Caffeine and Nicotine both work in similar ways that they both result in a dopamine and norepinephrine release, so again, very similar molecules if we are de-stigmatizing nicotine, and judging both caffeine and nicotine on the molecular level. 

They both result in the release of dopamine and norepinephrine, which is much of where the stimulating effect comes from, however, they work on different receptors. 

Caffeine works on the Adenosine Receptors and nicotine works on the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors (nAChRs).

Nicotine works by binding to these nAChRs and mimics acetylcholine, and it is within this activation of these receptors that nicotine may have some significant health benefits over time. 

Nicotine, a Scientifically Backed, Neuroprotective Molecule

The rub is, the benefits of nicotine are nothing all that new, as I was able to go all the way back to 1991 and find actual clinical research finding that nicotine was neuroprotective. 

I think for so long though, the only association we had with nicotine was with cigarette smoking, and the stigma was too strong to make nicotine marketable as an actual healthy nootropic and quite frankly, nutritional supplement.

Here’s some samplings from the research I’ve found:

In a paper titled, Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: from structure to brain function, it states that, “nAChRs have been demonstrated to be involved in cognitive processes such as learning and memory and control of movement in normal subjects.”

The benefits come from this nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) stimulation that comes from nicotine, as these receptors result in many positive effects in the body. 

The paper goes on to state, “Recent data from knockout animals has extended the understanding of nAChR function. Dysfunction of nAChR has been linked to a number of human diseases such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.”

Furthermore, on the pro-cognitive effects of nicotine, a systematic review titled, Molecular Insights into Memory-Enhancing Metabolites of Nicotine in the Brain, states that, “The results revealed three pharmacologically active biotransformations of nicotine in the brain, including cotinine, norcotinine, and nornicotine, among which cotinine and nornicotine both had a procognitive impact without adverse effects.”

What I found most noteworthy about this paper is that it wasn’t studying the impacts from the nicotine/nAChRs relationship we’ve been discussing, but rather, the metabolites of nicotine in the brain, to which, it found two of the three had benefits on cognition without adverse effects. This research could signal that there are neuroprotective and cognitive benefits of nicotine beyond its ability to stimulate the nAChRs.

We’ll round out the scientific corner with a paper titled, Muscle and neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: Structure, function, and pathogenicity, which states that, “nAChRs are now important therapeutic targets for various diseases, including myasthenia gravis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and schizophrenia, as well as for the cessation of smoking.”.

What’s an easy way to target these receptors to yield their therapeutic effects?

Nicotine. 

Final Thoughts

Nicotine is a molecule that I think should be viewed as a nutritional supplement, or at minimum, a safe molecule to consume as a stimulant. 

Full disclosure, I chew a piece of my favorite clean, pure nicotine gum when I sit down and write this newsletter blog, and have been for probably over a year now. 

The research on the benefits of nicotine supplementation has been going on for some time now, however, the delivery method has always been the issue, as tobacco is its main natural source. 

Getting our caffeine from coffee on the other hand, which is a tasty, drinkable, and quite frankly, very high antioxidant drink (if you’re drinking high quality coffee) is a far more palatable delivery method for a stimulant. 

That said, caffeine doesn’t seem to have the same long term neuroprotective benefits that nicotine does, so it’s worth considering. 

I personally use caffeine in the AM and really like the pick-me-up of a piece of nicotine gum on a mid-afternoon walk when I can. 

Now, that said, I do stress that with most things, low to moderate use is key, and nicotine can become addictive just as any stimulant can, so it’s important to maintain self awareness over your use and reasons for using. 

For me, I’ll consume caffeine to some extent every single day for the most part, but will chew anywhere from 3-5 total pieces of nicotine gum per week, oftentimes mid-day as mentioned, to boost creativity. 

Now that the word is getting out on the neuroprotective and brain and memory boosting benefits of nicotine, it’s becoming marketable enough that companies are offering pure, clean nicotine options. 

Meaning you can buy items containing pure, tobacco free nicotine, as you would any supplement that’s been standardized to its pure form from the plant in which it originates, such as gum, mints, and pouches. 

The brand of nicotine gum I use is called Lucy. They make gum, mints, and pouches that are naturally flavored, don’t contain any unwanted extras, and contain pure, clean nicotine in various doses. 

To check them out CLICK HERE. 

Another clean, all natural, pure nicotine brand worth checking out if you’re interested in exploring further is NicNac.

Solve it by walking. 

Solvitur ambulando is a Latin phrase meaning “it is solved by walking”, emphasizing a practical demonstration that many of our problems or even arguments can simply be solved by taking a walk. 

I am a BIG fan of walking and get outside for a walk as often as I can, many times multiple times per day. 

My technical job title is CEO, and we are a fast growing young company, which as you can imagine, presents itself with all kinds of stressors and problems pretty much on the daily. I find nothing helps me sort my head out more than going for a walk. 

As mentioned above, if I’m working on something creative or strategy, that requires more abstract thinking, I will often chew a piece of nicotine gum and for a 30-45 minute walk, and it’s wild how beneficial that can be at helping me work through whatever it is I’m trying to work through in my head. 

My wife, who also happens to be our COO and my co-founder, do a lot of our meetings on a walk. 

Steve Jobs famously took all of his meetings while walking the Apple campus and once said, “Never trust someone who won’t take a walk with you.”. 

And he’s widely considered one of the greatest innovators the world has ever known. 

I know I’m not reinventing the wheel with this segment, but sometimes these gentle reminders can be exactly what we need to make a more concerted effort, and getting outside and getting more steps in has been widely researched not only for its benefits on our health, but also for boosting creativity and problem solving. 

In an argument with your spouse or significant other? 

Walk it out together. 

And of course, that’s on top of all the longevity boosting benefits from walking. 

For adults, every 500 additional steps taken daily, is associated with lower heart attack risk. 

A study done by the American Heart Association shows a pretty substantial benefit in lowering risk of severe cardiovascular events from simply walking a little extra each day. 

The study was epidemiological, and meant to show the correlation between daily steps taken in elderly adults (age 70 and over) and risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or heart failure. 

Participants were followed up with for 3.5 years after the beginning of the study.

Here are some key highlights from their findings: 

• Walking an additional 500 steps per day was associated with a 14% lower risk of heart disease, stroke, or heart failure. (For context, a mile is about 2000 steps, so 500 additional steps would be roughly one-quarter mile)
• Compared to adults who took less than 2,000 steps per day (less than one mile), adults who took about 4,500 steps per day (about 2.25 miles) had a 77% lower observed risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event. 
• Only about 3.5% of participants who took about 4,500 steps per day had a cardiovascular event, compared to 11.5% of those who took less than 2,0000 steps per day during the 3.5 year period of the study. 

Key Takeaway

It’s pretty simple.

Walk more. 

This study observed elderly adults aged 70 and over, so this definitely applies to anyone in that age category, however, the lesson can be applied as early as you’d like, starting with now. 

The more steps you take in a day, on average, over time, the lower your risk of heart disease, and most likely, the better your chances of living longer without disease as a whole.

Epidemiological study of the 5 “Blue Zones” for longevity (areas of the world where culturally, people live much longer, without disease, than other parts of the world) shows that one of the biggest correlations to living longer, healthier, free of disease, is making walking a greater part of your everyday life. 

And maybe it’s not just the extra exercise, but also the stress relieving and mind clearing benefits one receives from simply taking a walk. We know stress is a major cause of disease across the board, and there’s probably something to be said about the correlation between walking and stress mitigation, and how it can also increase your longevity and overall healthspan. 

Every day is a once in a lifetime opportunity. 

Now there’s something to ponder on a morning walk. 

Take some time to yourself this week, go for a walk, and go deep on how truly incredible the gift to “today” is.