Nicotine and Cognition: What a 2020 Systematic Review Really Found
Dr. Kumar’s Take
This systematic review looked at 32 randomized trials in healthy adults to see if nicotine boosts thinking. The short answer is no clear win. Some studies showed small gains in attention, many were mixed, and several found no effect. A key insight was that many authors had past ties to tobacco companies and often did not disclose them. That does not prove bias changed the results, but it raises trust questions.