(Nashville, TN, Thursday, January 17, 2019) – Mild memory loss or Mild Cognitive Impairment, also known as MCI, affects 15 to 20 percent of people age 65 and older and is a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. However, there is no FDA-approved medication indicated to treat this condition.

The federally funded MIND Study aims to test whether the nicotine patch can improve memory and functioning in people who have mild memory loss or MCI. It’s the longest and largest running study of its kind and seeks non-smoking adults over the age of 55 who are in the earliest stages of memory loss to participate.

Dr. Paul Newhouse of Vanderbilt University, leads the Study.

SOUNDBITE #1:

PEOPLE OFTEN THINK NICOTINE IS ADDICTIVE AND HARMFUL BECAUSE IT IS IN TOBACCO PRODUCTS, BUT IT’S SAFE WHEN USED IN PATCH FORM. NICOTINE IS AN INEXPENSIVE, READILY AVAILABLE TREATMENT, WHICH COULD HAVE SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING MILD MEMORY LOSS OR MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT.

SOUNDBITE #2:

A BENEFIT OF NICOTINE IS THAT IT STIMULATES CERTAIN CELLS IN THE BRAIN THAT CAN ENHANCE BRAIN FUNCTION. WE ARE USING THAT TO TEST WHETHER WE CAN IMPROVE OR ALLEVIATE SYMPTOMS OF MEMORY LOSS IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE MILD MEMORY LOSS OR MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT.

For information, visit MINDStudy.org.