Year: 2022
Type: review
Abstract: Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Although combustible cigarettes are largely being replaced by tobacco-free products, nicotine use continues to increase in vulnerable populations, including youth, adolescents, and pregnant women. Nicotine exerts unique effects on specific brain regions during distinct developmental periods due to the dynamic expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) throughout the lifespan. Nicotine exposure is a health concern not only for adults but also has neurotoxic effects on the fetus, newborn, child, and adolescent. In this review, we aim to highlight the dynamic roles of nAChRs throughout gestation, adolescence, and adulthood. We also provide clinical and preclinical evidence of the neurodevelopmental, cognitive, and behavioral consequences of nicotine exposure at different developmental periods. This comprehensive review highlights unique effects of nicotine throughout the lifespan to help elucidate interventions and public health measures to protect sensitive populations from nicotine exposure.
Institution: University of California, Irvine
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,110
Funders: Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, National Institutes of Health, University of California, Irvine, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine
OpenAlex ID: W4210539327