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A new study from researchers at Penn State’s Department of Biobehavioral Health suggests that young adults in their late teens and early 20s may be more vulnerable to nicotine addiction than middle-aged adults. The findings, published in Behavioral Pharmacology, indicate that nicotine affects young adults more intensely, which has significant implications for prevention and treatment efforts.
The study, led by doctoral student Carlos Novoa and his adviser, Thomas Gould, Jean Phillips Shibley Professor of Biobehavioral Health and head of the department, used mice as a model to explore the impact of nicotine at different life stages. Researchers observed that nicotine lowered body temperature and reduced movement in young-adult mice more significantly than in middle-aged mice. These results suggest that the physiological and neurological effects of nicotine change with age, reinforcing the importance of considering age-related differences in addiction research.
Gould emphasized that human development does not stop at a particular age, such as 18 or 25, but continues throughout life. “People continue to develop and change across their entire lifespan, and this affects how our bodies respond to medications and other chemicals, including nicotine,” he stated.
The researchers noted that young adults tend to use nicotine for the pleasurable sensations it produces, while older adults are more likely to use it due to addiction or stress management. This heightened response among young adults may increase their risk of developing a dependency on nicotine.
Another key finding was the hypothermic effect of nicotine, which resulted in a more rapid drop in body temperature in young-adult mice compared to their middle-aged counterparts. Although direct parallels between mice and humans require further study, these findings highlight potential vulnerabilities in younger individuals exposed to nicotine.
Novoa stressed the importance of using this research to refine smoking prevention and cessation strategies. “The younger you are, the more acute your response to nicotine. This has implications both for prevention messages and for supporting young nicotine users who want to quit,” he said.
Currently, fewer than 10% of attempts to quit smoking are successful, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Understanding how nicotine affects individuals based on age and other biological factors may help in designing more effective interventions.
Disclaimer:
This study was conducted on mice, and while the findings provide valuable insights, further research is needed to confirm these effects in humans. Individuals concerned about nicotine addiction should seek professional medical advice. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or health advice.
