Margaret smoked tobacco (not straw :-) for many years until 1986 when she quit. First diagnosed with PD in about 1970 but it began to accelerate (downwards) from 1987/8. I had missed the temporal connection until you made me look again. Now I am beginning to wonder whether the PD was being held back by the nicotine. Regards, M. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mark Atyeo 51 Alexander Mackie Circuit Isaacs, 2607 Australia +61 6 286 2606 Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like an apple.