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To assess whether the use of a transdermal nicotine patch improves cognition and function in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), researchers conducted a 6-month, single-site, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. They used two primary outcomes: a cognitive one that measured attentional control (variability in reaction time on a continuous-performance task), and a global one that measured a clinician's impression of change.
Out of 74 enrolled patients, 67 (91%) completed the 6-month trial. Although the variability in reaction time dropped significantly more in the nicotine-treated than placebo-treated patients, the clinical global measure was similar between groups. Some of the secondary cognitive outcomes were signific…