Nicotine helps to get the better of depression Nicotine plaster may considerably alleviate depression of nonsmokers, as American scientists have established. Now, they want to create a substance in laboratory conditions, which will have the action similar to nicotine. Joseph McClernon and his colleagues from the Duke Center for Nicotine and Smoking Cessation Research tested the nicotine action for 11 nonsmokers, who suffered depression. The half of tested people got nicotine plaster; another one got the plaster, which did not contain active material. Besides, scientists classified the depression severity, having determined it according to the inquiry form with 20 questions. In 8 days the depression symptoms of tested people, who had nicotine plaster, have reduced. The scientists explain such effect with the following way: Nicotine stimulates those brain areas, which participate in mood creation. In this case nicotine activates so called mediators, serotonin, dopamine and norepinefrin, which provide information transfer between nervous cells. Scientists have already established that depression occurs because of disbalance of these mediators. In spite of the fact that nicotine cheers up, scientists explicitly warn depressed people from smoking. Nicotine plaster is also inappropriate method of depression treatment, because it is addictive. |