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Charles, Our E-s passed in the airwaves. You make a good point, and I quit smoking because it was killing me. I do know someone who has cautiously tried "smokeless tobacco" and reports clear symptomatic improvements after a short trial period. I guess part of me thinks "what the hell, could it get any worse." Each of us has to make our own judgment calls. Chuck On Tue, 18 Apr 2000 14:34:07 -0400 Charles Williams <[log in to unmask]> writes: > Are you sure that nicotine itself is the protective agent? An article > (albeit a very brief article) in New Scientist referred to > 'substances in > smoke that inhibit the enzyme. They isolated a compound that blocks > MAO's > activity in the test tube...' So maybe it's something else in the > smoke > other than nicotine. If so, patches won't help. And isn't it proven > that > taking up smoking after PD has started is not effective in slowing > progression? Tell me if I'm wrong - please. > > Charles > > -----Original Message----- > From: Charles E Murray <[log in to unmask]> > To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> > Date: 18 April 2000 01:20 > Subject: Re: nicotine patches > > > >I've thought about the irony of quitting smoking 15 years ago, then > >running marathons and triathlons, only to be diagnosed with PK a > year ago > >at 58 after symptoms developed for several years. The irony is all > my > >ancestors on my maternal side have used tobacco into their 80s and > are > >still going strong. > > > >I read the same nicotine material at NPF site and another PK > website. I > >know one PK who claimed improvement in symptoms while using > nicotine (via > >snuff or whatever its called) after being nicotine free for many > years. > >I'd sure like to hear from anyone with first hand experience with > patches > >or other non-smoking delivery system (gum, whatever). > > > >My doc acknowledges the research but still thinks the negatives > >outweight the positives. With an 86 year old uncle using those > little > >tobacco pouches (he quit smoking at about 78) and in good health > for his > >age, I have mixed feelings about avoiding nicotine, especially if > it > >helps symptoms as well as being probably neuroprotective. > >Chuck > >