Can nicotine make you smarter? Why biohackers and conservative pundits are embracing the controversial habit

“Are you over the age of 21?” the perky representative asked as she handed me two tins of ALP nicotine pouches.We were at Dave Asprey’s Beyond Biohacking Conference, where attendees crowded around the booth to get their hands on the brand’s fruity and minty “lip pillows.”Nicotine has long been viewed as a vice, not a tool for improving health and performance — but it’s recently undergone an image makeover thanks to biohackers, wellness influencers and high-achieving consumers seeking a cognitive edge.Once synonymous with cigarettes and addiction, the stimulant is now being explored as a tool for improving mental performance and brain health — with Asprey among its most vocal advocates.“Nicotine is one of the most misunderstood compounds in the biohacking world,” Asprey, who pioneered the movement, told The Post.The problem, he said, is that when people hear nicotine, they immediately think of cigarettes.“Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals and carcinogens.Vaping is probably worse,” Asprey said.

“Pharmaceutical-grade nicotine is completely different.”He said that nicotine, when separated from tobacco and combustion, can act as a powerful nootropic — binding to receptors in the brain involved in memory, attention and neuroprotection.“I’ve been using non-combustible nicotine for years now, and I’m not shy about it,” Asprey said.“I typically use a low dose, we’re talking 2 to 5 milligrams, and I’m strategic about when I use it.

It’s usually before deep work or before a high-stakes conversation.”Asprey is far from alone in embracing nicotine as a performance aid.In Silicon Valley, tech startups are handing out free nicotine pouches to employees, stocking office vending machines with flavored stimulants that workers say sharpen focus and boost productivity.Fitness guru and “Biggest Loser” host Jillian Michaels has spoken about using nicotine gum to manage her ADHD and protect her brain.Joe Rogan is also...