Nicotine and Cognitive Performance: What a Major Meta-Analysis Really Found
Dr. Kumar’s Take on Nicotine and Cognition
This meta-analysis pulled together 41 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in healthy adults. It found that a single dose of nicotine can give small to moderate, short-term boosts in attention, reaction time, and some memory tasks. The effects were not due to withdrawal relief. These are lab gains, not a pass for daily use. Nicotine is addictive, raises heart rate and blood pressure, and can lead to dependence. If you use nicotine now, the safest path is planning to quit with evidence-based tools. If you do not use nicotine, the take-home is simple: do not start for “focus.”