Re: Nicotine benefits PD sufferers ??

[Greg Sterling <sterling@xxxxxxxx>]

Nigel,
I knew that "clean" living would eventually come back and bite me!

Greg
47/35/35
:)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Nigel Harland" <nharland@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <PARKINSN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2000 1:05 PM
Subject: Nicotine benefits PD sufferers ??


Hi all,
       I enclose an article from todays Daily Express newspaper,(uk).
" NICOTINE HAILED AS NEW WONDER DRUG"
Nicotine has new and unexpected benefits as a therapeutic drug,according to
new research. Administered via a patch or in chewing gum, the chemical
hitherto damned as the addictive ingredient in cigarettes can help
conditions ranging from hyperactivity in children to people suffering from
Alzheimers and Parkinsons Disease as well as a rare disorder called
Tourettes Syndrome.
Studies using nicotine patches showed significant  improvement in children
with Attention Deficit Disorder, and in another group with Tourettes- a
condition which makes sufferers call out obscenities involuntarily.
Alzheimers and Parkinsons patients also improved after treatment with
Nicotine patches. Paul Newhouse, of America's Vermont University which
carried out the research, said "I got one letter from a Parkinsons patient
after the trial listing all the ways in which his life had improved,
including a comment from his wife which said " this is great, he's back to
his old totally cool self".
Dr Newhouse said it was known that people who smoke have a low risk of
Parkinsons.
It is believed that Nicotine stimulates the production of a natural brain
chemical called Dopamine, whose lack is implicated in illnesses such as
Parkinson's. Unfortunately Nicotinealso causes significant side effects,
these include nausea and itchy skin where the patch is applied. Scientists
are now looking into synthetic chemicals which mimic the effects of nicotine
without the side effects........"
Anyone heard of, or experienced, any such benefits ??

Nigel 45/12