Help sometimes comes from the most unlikely of sources. Big Tobacco has a long history of misleading politicians and the public about the significant harm caused by smoking and purposefully attempting to hook a new generation of kids on its products. But those same companies have done a lot of potentially important research into a compound that could help with a wide range of conditions, from delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s to improving attention in ADHD-suffering teens and even aiding weight loss. The chemical in question is none other than nicotine, one of the most addictive substances on the planet, but paradoxically one that a deeper understanding of may lead to a more effective treatment for smoking addiction. So is it all hype, or does nicotine really hold all this promise?
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