Nicotine has it uses and benefits.

The abuse of that or the "cigarretization" is the problem.

One thing is to get real organic tabbaco and smoke in small quantities not inhalling only getting nicotine thru gum line.

About the benefits in cognition [1][4] alzheimers and parkinson [2], helping with covid [3] and even testosterone [5]

Cigarretes + additives are *very* bad you can see the difference here [6].

Is tobbaco bad? yes. Is nicotine bad maybe.

Is cigarrete bad? Yes very

Is Cigar bad? Yes but not as cigarrete.

TlDr -> Go for pure nicotine or cigars if you need neuroprotection.

[1] - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1579636/

[2] - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1859921/

[3] - https://openres.ersjournals.com/content/7/2/00713-2020

[4] - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9006184/

[5] - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24457405/

[6] - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29459935/