1
|
Nicotine's effect on cognition, a friend or foe? Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 124:110723. [PMID: 36736944 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Tobacco smoking is a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Smoking comes in form of absorption of many compounds, among which nicotine is the main psychoactive component of tobacco and its positive and negative reinforcement effects are proposed to be the key mechanism for the initiation and maintenance of smoking. Growing evidence suggests that the cognitive enhancement effects of nicotine may also contribute to the difficulty of quitting smoking, especially in individuals with psychiatric disorders. In this review, we first introduce the beneficial effect of nicotine on cognition including attention, short-term memory and long-term memory. We next summarize the beneficial effect of nicotine on cognition under pathological conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Schizophrenia, Stress-induced Anxiety, Depression, and drug-induced memory impairment. The possible mechanism underlying nicotine's effect is also explored. Finally, nicotine's detrimental effect on cognition is discussed, including in the prenatal and adolescent periods, and high-dose nicotine- and withdrawal-induced memory impairment is emphasized. Therefore, nicotine serves as both a friend and foe. Nicotine-derived compounds could be a promising strategy to alleviate neurological disease-associated cognitive deficit, however, due to nicotine's detrimental effect, continued educational programs and public awareness campaigns are needed to reduce tobacco use among pregnant women and smoking should be quitted even if it is e-cigarette, especially for the adolescents.
Collapse
|
2
|
Unique effects of nicotine across the lifespan. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 214:173343. [PMID: 35122768 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Although combustible cigarettes are largely being replaced by tobacco-free products, nicotine use continues to increase in vulnerable populations, including youth, adolescents, and pregnant women. Nicotine exerts unique effects on specific brain regions during distinct developmental periods due to the dynamic expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) throughout the lifespan. Nicotine exposure is a health concern not only for adults but also has neurotoxic effects on the fetus, newborn, child, and adolescent. In this review, we aim to highlight the dynamic roles of nAChRs throughout gestation, adolescence, and adulthood. We also provide clinical and preclinical evidence of the neurodevelopmental, cognitive, and behavioral consequences of nicotine exposure at different developmental periods. This comprehensive review highlights unique effects of nicotine throughout the lifespan to help elucidate interventions and public health measures to protect sensitive populations from nicotine exposure.
Collapse
|
3
|
Developmental nicotine exposure impairs memory and reduces acetylcholine levels in the hippocampus of mice. Brain Res Bull 2021; 176:1-7. [PMID: 34358612 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2021.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Nicotine is a strong psychoactive and addictive compound found in tobacco. Use of nicotine in the form of smoking, vaping or other less common methods during pregnancy has been shown to be related to poor health conditions, including cognitive problems, in babies and children. However, mechanisms of such cognitive deficits are not fully understood. In this study we analyzed hippocampus dependent cognitive deficits using a mouse model of developmental nicotine exposure. Pregnant dams were exposed to nicotine and experiments were performed in one month old offspring. Our results show that nicotine exposure did not affect locomotor behavior in mice. Hippocampus dependent working memory and object location memory were diminished in nicotine exposed mice. Furthermore, acetylcholine levels in the hippocampus of nicotine exposed mice were reduced along with reduced activity of acetylcholinesterase enzyme. Analysis of transcripts for proteins that are known to regulate acetylcholine levels revealed a decline in mRNA levels of high affinity choline transporters in the hippocampus of nicotine exposed mice but those of vesicular acetylcholine transporter, choline acetyltransferase, and α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors were not altered. These results suggest that developmental nicotine exposure impairs hippocampus dependent memory forms and this effect is likely mediated by altered cholinergic function.
Collapse
|
4
|
Alzoubi KH, Batran RM, Al-Sawalha NA, Khabour OF, Karaoghlanian N, Shihadeh A, Eissenberg T. The effect of electronic cigarettes exposure on learning and memory functions: behavioral and molecular analysis. Inhal Toxicol 2021; 33:234-243. [PMID: 34311661 DOI: 10.1080/08958378.2021.1954732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) are battery-powered devices that emit vaporized solutions for the user to inhale. ECIGs are marketed as a less harmful alternative to combustible cigarettes. The current study examined the effects of ECIG aerosol exposure on learning and memory, expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the hippocampus.Methods: Male Wistar rats were exposed to ECIG aerosol, by a whole-body exposure system, 1 h/day for 1 week, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks. Spatial learning and memory were tested using the Radial Arm Water Maze (RAWM). Hippocampal BDNF protein level, and oxidative stress biomarkers (GPx, SOD, GSH, GSSG, GSH/GSSG ratio) were also assessed.Results: ECIG aerosol exposure for 4 and 12 weeks impaired both short- and long- term memory and induced reductions in the hippocampus BDNF, SOD and GPx activities, and GSH/GSSG ratio (p < 0.05). No changes in any examined biomarkers were observed after 1-week exposure to ECIG aerosol (p > 0.05).Conclusions: ECIG aerosol exposure impaired functional memory and elicited changes in brain chemistry that are consistent with reduced function and oxidative stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karem H Alzoubi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Rahaf M Batran
- Department of Legal Medicine, Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Nour A Al-Sawalha
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Omar F Khabour
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Nareg Karaoghlanian
- Mechanical Engineering Department, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.,Center for the Study of Tobacco Products, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Alan Shihadeh
- Mechanical Engineering Department, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.,Center for the Study of Tobacco Products, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Thomas Eissenberg
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.,Center for the Study of Tobacco Products, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| |
Collapse
|