Biohackers chasing the fountain of youth are turning to an unlikely new tool: nicotine.
Once demonized for its role in cigarettes, the addictive stimulant is now being recast as a cognitive enhancer with potential anti-aging perks.
But don’t go reaching for a pack of smokes just yet. Longevity fanatics say you’ll only get the perks if you use it the right way — get it wrong, and you could get burned.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is nicotine?
Nicotine is a naturally occurring chemical found in the tobacco plant, as well as in other members of the nightshade family such as potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant and peppers.
People usually get nicotine through cigarettes, hookahs, smokeless tobacco or vapes. It’s also available in gum, patches and lozenges, mainly as a tool to help people quit smoking.
Nicotine is highly addictive, especially when delivered quickly through smoking. Experts say it can be as habit-forming as cocaine, heroin, or amphetamines, and it comes with a host of potential side effects.
While it’s what keeps people hooked on tobacco, nicotine itself isn’t the main culprit behind smoking-related diseases. That title belongs to the thousands of other harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke, which over time can cause serious health problems, including fatal lung disease and cancer.
How does nicotine affect the body?
Once nicotine enters the body, it’s quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and travels to the brain.
Once there, it mostly acts as a stimulant. It fires up your adrenal glands, releasing adrenaline that spikes your heart rate, blood pressure and breathing.
Nicotine also increases levels of dopamine, the brain’s “feel-good” chemical, and norepinephrine, which sharpens alertness and focus. Acetylcholine gets a boost too, helping with concentration and thinking clearly.
But nicotine isn’t just a buzz. It can also act as a depressant, slowing your brain and central nervous system.
After the initial rush, it can calm you down and ease stress — which is part of why smokers often reach for a cigarette in tense moments.
How are biohackers using nicotine?
Dave Asprey, the man widely credited with launching the biohacking movement, is one of the most prominent figures endorsing so-called longevity nicotine.
“When I say nicotine, people hear smoking, because the two are so tightly linked,” Asprey told the Daily Mail. “‘But smoking contains thousands of other compounds that are harmful. Pharmaceutical-grade nicotine, purified nicotine, is a different thing.”
On his website, Asprey, 52, lays out his personal protocol for using nicotine for longevity — though he notes it’s not for everyone.
He takes it only through a “clean” lozenge or patch, usually 1 or 2 mg — roughly one-tenth of the nicotine in a cigarette — and never smokes or vapes.
Asprey also uses it strategically, saving it for moments that require sharp focus, such as marathon writing or recording sessions, or when jet lag hits and he needs to stay alert without overloading on caffeine.
He skips nicotine on days he’s jittery, stressed, using other stimulants or facing high cardiovascular strain, like intense workouts or sauna sessions.
“The biohacker’s rule applies: use it as a tool, not a crutch,” Asprey wrote.
Is there any science behind nicotine’s brain-boosting benefits?
There’s a small but growing body of research suggesting nicotine might give the brain a boost when used occasionally in low doses.
A 2010 review of 41 studies found that it “significant positive effects” on attention and memory. Two years later, another study confirmed nicotine can improve attention, memory and cognitive processing in both healthy adults and those with mild cognitive impairment.
And in 2021, a study of adults ages 60 to 75 found nicotine helped those with lower baseline scores perform better, hinting that it can restore some cognitive efficiency.
But it’s not all good news. Animal research suggests that nicotine exposure during key developmental stages — in the womb or during adolescence — can backfire, making rats more impulsive, less focused and prone to anxiety and depression-like behaviors.
A 2020 review in humans, meanwhile, found that nicotine’s cognitive effects can be inconsistent, largely depending on factors like dose, timing and frequency.
“Nicotine can play a protective role in theory, but overuse flips that switch,” Asprey wrote online. “Biohackers should view it as a precision molecule, not a habit.”
Can nicotine support longevity?
The science isn’t clear cut, but some studies suggest nicotine may help support the aging brain.
In 2023, researchers found found that low doses of nicotine over time could slow aging by improving how cells use energy and protecting memory.
It also boosted brain cell growth, reduced nervous system inflammation, protected organs and even helped preserve motor function with age.
Some research also suggests nicotine may protect neurons damaged by diseases like Parkinson’s, potentially slowing or preventing its progression.
Nicotine has also showed promise as a treatment for depression, ADHD, Tourette’s and schizophrenia.
But it’s not a free pass. Experts warn there’s no long-term research on people using nicotine outside of smoking, and side effects like cardiovascular stress, digestive issues, and dizziness are still a concern.
People using it for cognitive and anti-aging benefits are “very much experimenting,” notes Slate writer Hannah Singleton, who turned to nicotine patches as a potential tool for treating brain fog.
“There are no protocols or prescribed doses approved by the Food and Drug Administration,” she continued. “Overall, it might be accurate to say that nicotine ‘holds promise’ as a potential tool for brain functioning.”
