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Hi, Becky: We have a couple of research projects here at the Parkinson's Institute which are aimed at determining whether or not there is any measurable (in a scientific sense) effect on the chances or developing PD and/or on the rate of progression of disease between smokers and nonsmokers. There have been some prior studies, and I can probably get you a list of the authors, etc. if you want them. We have not published any results yet. At 11:13 AM 10/1/98 +0200, you wrote: >Wed, 30 Sep 1998 20:49:07 -0000 Becky Potts <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > ><<<< It seems odd that smokers would be less likely to get PD because >smoking is one type of chemical exposure. Maybe the non-smokers are exposed >to more harmful second hand smoke. I'll have to really look into the >smoking factor. >>>> > >Hello Becky, > >While smoking, first hand or second hand, several chemicals enter the >persons body. Most of those chemicals are very harmful for the health of the >smoker and causes lungdiseases and severe forms of cancer. However in >cigarettes, etc. is also a chemical called nicotine. Nicotine is a chemical >that normally is present in the brain to make it function correctly. >Smokers have more nicotine in their body cq their blood cq their brain than >non-smokers. The higher level of the nicotine is the probable reason that >smokers are less succeptable for PD. There has been research about this, >that confirmed this hypothesis. There even have been attempts to make a >nicotine-patch as a treatment against PD. Until now it is still under >investigation. The existing anti-smoke nicotine-patches are NOT suitable for >use as a treatment for PD. (TOO much nicotine of course is no good either!!) > >BTW: I would NOT advise anyone to start or go on smoking, because of the >possible positive effect by the nicotine. The chances are you will never >experience the effect on PD, because you'll be dead first from the negative >effects of smoking!!! > >There must be some material about this in the archives of the list. >Perhaps you could ask someone to look it up for you. > >Good luck with your project, Hans. > > =========================================================================== Carole L. Cassidy, CFRE Director of Developmenet and Community Relations The Parkinson's Institute 1170 Morse Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94089 408-542-5628 direct line 408-734-8522 fax