There is a natural compound that is cheap, common and could provide significant heath benefits for a number of diseases including Alzheimer's disease and a number of other diseases of the brain.
So what is this compound? Surprisingly it's nicotine.
Although Nicotine has suffered from an image problem due to its association with smoking, the fact is nicotine in its pure form is safe and non toxic and is part of the natural food chain.
Nicotine is in fact found in many common foods such as chili peppers, cauliflower tomatoes and potatoes, as well as many teas.
Nicotine has a bad reputation due to its link with cigarette smoking, but the fact is it is some of the other 4,000 chemicals that are consumed in smoking that are the killers not nicotine.
Today, many companies are conducting research into nicotine and its affect on the brain.
It has been known for a long time that it improves concentration, attention and has a beneficial affect on mood.
It is this affect on the brain that has led scientists to look at Nicotine's potential in diseases including Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease Prevention Alzheimer's disease occurs when the degeneration of various structures in the brain occurs, with the development of amyloid plaques and neuro-fibrillary tangles then deficiencies of acetylcholine and other neurotransmitters also can occur.
New research indicates that nornicotine, produced when nicotine is absorbed into the body, prevents the formation of protein lumps, or plaques, in the brain area that are associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease alleviating the symptoms Scientists are also looking at nicotine to treat Alzheimer's disease when it has already occurred.
Tests have already been carried out to repair damaged memory ability in rats.
Nicotine is thought to help alleviate the effects of Alzheimer's by attaching to receptors of the brain acetylcholine, a chemical important in learning and memory, of which a loss of is common in Alzheimer's disease.
While medical research is still inconclusive in many areas, it does appear that Nicotine has potential to help with a number of diseases that include brain function.
In addition to Alzheimer's disease, medical research is being undertaken into Nicotine's affect on suffers of: Depression, Parkinson's disease, attention disorders and Schizophrenia.
Many drug companies are researching the possibility of treatments that include nicotine to combat the above diseases and alleviate the symptoms.
Nicotine needs to be delivered in its pure form and companies have already looked at and launched nicotine in water which is a safe delivery method and other products look set to follow.
After being treated with suspicion for many years due to its association with smoking nicotine is being seen in a different light.
In its natural form it is safe and non toxic and not only does not cause disease, it may actually have huge potential as a medical treatment.
As research intensifies expect to here more news on nicotine in relation to a number of diseases including Alzheimer's.
It maybe that in the near future nicotine could be seen in a completely different light and not simply associated with smoking.