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Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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FACT BRIEF

Is there evidence that nicotine is toxic to the brain?

By Austin Tannenbaum
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YES

Literally speaking, nicotine is toxic to the brain in large enough quantities, meaning that it impairs brain function leading to serious illness or death. Nicotine overdoses are rare but have increased with the introduction of e-cigarettes, which can deliver more nicotine than traditional cigarettes.

Nicotine poses a series of other health risks, including cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, immune and reproductive damage, addiction, and cancer. A 2012 study on the effect of nicotine on the adolescent brain found that “smoking increases the risk of developing psychiatric disorders and cognitive impairment in later life.”

The evidence that nicotine enhances brain function is mixed. A 2018 review of the literature found that nicotine improves motor function, attention and memory, but a 2020 review found results were inconsistent amid some evidence of tobacco industry funding.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Healthline Nicotine poisoning: Overdose, symptoms and treatment
National Library of Medicine Harmful effects of nicotine
National Library of Medicine Short- and long-term consequences of nicotine exposure during adolescence for prefrontal cortex neuronal network function
National Library of Medicine Nicotine is a neurotoxin in the adolescent brain: critical periods, patterns of exposure, regional selectivity, and dose thresholds for macromolecular alterations
National Library of Medicine Cognitive effects of nicotine: Recent progress
SAGE Journals Cognitive performance effects of nicotine and industry affiliation: a systematic review
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Gigafact
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.