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Hi All. There are studies going on with PD and the nicotine patch as an alternative to having people start smoking. There were local newsapper articles about U of M (Michigan) and clincial trials. If memory serves, they involved fairly early stage PD. Perhaps you would want to give them a call. Joanna On Mon, 8 Jan 1996, Juliet A. Dutton wrote: > My father has been diagnosed with PD for about 2 years. A friend of his who > is an armchair physician convinced him to smoke 2 ciggarettes a day. At first > I was furious and my dad refused for a while. He hates ciggarettes more than > anything. > But, eventually he gave in and I have to say he actually seems better. His > tremor is less severe and for an hour or two after he smokes he gets up out > of his chair easily and has a stronger voice. This all may be > psychological, I really don't know - either does he. We told his doctor and > his doctor just scoffed and told him that was stupid and he should quit. Now > I am not so sure and wish that more doctors would take a look at what ever > dynamic nicotine (or whatever else is in ciggarettes) causes in the PD brain. > I would never want to encourage anyone to start smoking but reluctantly I > have to admit that there is an improvement in my dad, however slight and for > whatever reason. >