Q. I read in your column about nicotine patches helping with memory. I have been trying them, and I do feel sharper. I’m not sure if this effect is real or placebo. That said, my question is how long ...

When we hear the word “nicotine,” most of us think about vaping, cigarettes, addiction, and lung cancer. But beneath this stigma lies an interesting paradox: nicotine, the same compound that makes ...