Ananya Sood
Remedial for Quiz 7/ Overall Grade
In this article by Lisa Conti,
the author explores and understands the relationship between Nicotine and
Schizophrenia. According to her, drugs like nicotine show the hope of
alleviating cognitive impairment caused by the onset of schizophrenia. To
give a background of the disorder, some of the major symptoms of Schizophrenia
include delusion, hallucination, and cognitive impairment. Even though symptoms vary from
patient to patient, there are other common symptoms, such as social isolation,
thought disorder, anger, paranoia etc.
The Scientific American author
observed that about 85% patients with diagnosed schizophrenia and symptoms
of schizophrenia resort of smoking cigarettes at various stages in their
disorder. According to these patients, smoking cigarettes helps reduce
cognitive impairment. But is that really possible?
Scientists over time have
observed therapeutic effects of nicotine on a diseased brain but have found no
evidence suggesting any long-term positive effects fo the chemical. Conti
states that nicotine binds to receptors in the brain which eventually get
desensitized over time. In this situation, the positive effects of nicotine
last for a very short period of time and inherently cause the person to smoke
more often. This practice might not relieve symptoms of schizophrenia but
does ensure a heavy nicotine addiction.
Schizophrenia requires
lifelong treatment, even when symptoms have subsided. Treatment with medications
and psychosocial therapy can help manage the condition. But in some severe
cases, hospitalization is also recommended. Most often, treatment for
Schizophrenia involves antipsychotic medication which is thought to
control symptoms by affecting the brain neurotransmitter dopamine.
The article explored the
possibility of chemical compounds like nicotine that have the capacity to bind
to brain neuroreceptors but at a much weaker strength than nicotine does.
This would help alleviate symptoms
of cognitive impairment but also reduce the risk of a heavy addiction. Schizophrenia
alters chemical communication to the brain, making it difficult for the brain
to isolate a singular process and provide continuous attention to it.
Nicotine modifies the process of signaling, and hopefully the possible new
chemical with help progress and make the lives of schizophrenic patients
easier.
Article -
Conti, Lisa. “Smoking Away Schizophrenia?” Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2007,
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