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I don't think any "benefits" from nicotine can justify smoking - I smoked about 500,000 cigarettes over 60 years I quit about 8 years ago and I wish the h___ that I had quit 40 years or more before that. After all the "benefits " are not proven yet. Bob A. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Charles Williams" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2000 2:34 PM Subject: Re: nicotine patches 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 >