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Using Nicotine to Reverse Age-related Auditory Processing Deficits

Using Nicotine to Reverse Age-related Auditory Processing Deficits: Human Psychophysics and Electrophysiology

Who can join

Ages 18 to 85 · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome

Inclusion Criteria:

* between 18 and 85 years of age
* non-smokers with a score of 0-2 out of 10 maximum on the Fagerström index of smoking dependency
* cognitive performance within two standard deviations of the CERAD mean

Exclusion Criteria:

* less than 18 or greater than 85 years of age
* deafness or excessive hearing loss
* smokers with a score between 3 and 10 on the Fagerström index of smoking dependency
* history of psychiatric illness, neurological disorders, diabetes mellitus, renal failure, or cardiovascular disease
* regular use of prescription medications (excluding oral contraceptives)
* drug dependency

About the study

The present study will evaluate the effects of both aging and nicotine on psychophysical tasks and electrophysiological measures. Nicotine will be administered to study participants in the form of gum that is available as an over-the-counter medication. The hypothesis is that nicotine will reverse the detrimental effects of aging on auditory processing. The proposed experiments will characterize the effects of nicotine and may eventually lead to improved treatments of hearing loss in a variety of patient populations and in healthy aging.

What is being tested

• Nicotine gum (other)
• Placebo gum (other)

Sponsor: University of California, Irvine · Participants: 48 · Started: Feb 1, 2022

Contact the study team

• Fan-Gang Zeng · Phone: 9498249107

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT04971954

Locations in the U.S.

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.