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To be fair to McCullough, the "scientific consensus" has been wrong a lot lately, and their track record on Covid really sucked.

Seriously, no idea about Covid, but I know the other stuff is true. Athletes have used nicotine patches for something(?) and I did read an article years ago about smokers having lower rates of dementia. Probably new studies shooting stuff down, but let's be honest, in another 20 years there will be newer studies debunking those.

Leisher wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2026 5:04 pm Athletes have used nicotine patches for something(?) a

It's a stimulant. It absolutely helps with athletic performance (to a point). Caffeine as well.

Leisher wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2026 5:04 pm and I did read an article years ago about smokers having lower rates of dementia.

Hmmm...

Smoking is a major modifiable risk factor for dementia, with heavy smoking in midlife significantly increasing the risk of Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.

I wonder about survivor bias. Like smokers died from cancer and other respiratory illnesses, so at a certain age it SEEMED like it was a lower rate, given that so many had died.

TheCatt wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2026 5:19 pm I wonder about survivor bias. Like smokers died from cancer and other respiratory illnesses, so at a certain age it SEEMED like it was a lower rate, given that so many had died.

That would be an interesting number.

If nicotine is the X factor, then we should be giving nicotine patches to people at high risk.