Nicotine accociated with lower rates of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's

[fibrogirl]

Science is starting to do a u-turn on Nicotine just like they did on wine, margerine replacing butter and eggs.

Study Supports New Theory For Nicotine's Protective Effect Against Neurodegenerative Disorders

Tampa, FL (March 15, 2004) – While the health risks of tobacco are well known, several studies have shown that people with a history of cigarette smoking have lower rates of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. However, the explanations for nicotine's neuroprotective effects continue to be debated.

Now a team of neuroscientists at the University of South Florida College of Medicine presents new evidence of an anti-inflammatory mechanism in the brain by which nicotine may protect against nerve cell death. Their study was published today in the Journal of Neurochemistry.

In laboratory experiments, the researchers demonstrated that nicotine inhibits activation of brain immune cells known as microglia. Chronic microglial activation is a sign of brain inflammation that is a key step in nerve cell death.

http://www.biopsychiatry.com/nicotine/neuroprotective.html

http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20031012195753data_trunc_sys.shtml

[nessuno]

It is important to use commonsense and moderation.
I wonder when are they going to have a study saying that.

[Dr. Dan]

Too much nicotine is also bad and addictive.

Bottom line this study is suggesting that those with a high number of nicotinic receptors in their brain may be less prone to alzheimer's.  It doesn't mean that we should now increase nicotine intake to prevent alzheimer's.

[Kahane-Was-Right BT]

Science is starting to do a u-turn on Nicotine just like they did on wine, margerine replacing butter and eggs.

Study Supports New Theory For Nicotine's Protective Effect Against Neurodegenerative Disorders

Tampa, FL (March 15, 2004) – While the health risks of tobacco are well known, several studies have shown that people with a history of cigarette smoking have lower rates of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. However, the explanations for nicotine's neuroprotective effects continue to be debated.

Now a team of neuroscientists at the University of South Florida College of Medicine presents new evidence of an anti-inflammatory mechanism in the brain by which nicotine may protect against nerve cell death. Their study was published today in the Journal of Neurochemistry.

In laboratory experiments, the researchers demonstrated that nicotine inhibits activation of brain immune cells known as microglia. Chronic microglial activation is a sign of brain inflammation that is a key step in nerve cell death.

http://www.biopsychiatry.com/nicotine/neuroprotective.html

http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20031012195753data_trunc_sys.shtml

There is absolutely NO u-turn regarding smoking which is scientifically proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to destroy a person's heart and predispose to lung and other cancers.  Nicotine is still a highly addictive substance regardless of this study and it will take a lot more research to understand its implications for brain health.  Who knows , if they uncover the mechanism it could eventually lead to a drug candidate (maybe 20 years from now?)   Meanwhile, as long as the primary solurce of nicotine consumption is cigarettes, its harm far outweighs its benefits.

The reason the medical or nutritional field adjusted their views on eggs and margarine (inaccurate to vall it a u turn) is because they follow where the evidence leads and the initial hypotheses were based on a void of information that nlow having been filled with additional known facts and further scientific understanding, points instead to other conclusions.  That's the beauty of a discipline built on evidence.

[Kahane-Was-Right BT]

Science is not an exact science.

Haha exactly.

The world is not simple or black and white.  It's highly complex and it makes sense that our best methodology for describing the world will have to incoporate the same type of gradation and complexity.  We have to assess risk/benefit, competing forces, disparate sources of information to approximate axioms about the natural world and healthy living.

[Tag-MehirTzedek]

One can always smoke E-cigaretts. They don't have all the other junk that cigaretts have and you get to get the nicotine.

[Kahane-Was-Right BT]

One can always smoke E-cigaretts. They don't have all the other junk that cigaretts have and you get to get the nicotine.

That's BS marketed by the cigarette companies.

[Chaim Ben Pesach]

בס''ד

Did you know that alcoholics usually have very clean arteries? That means they are much less likely to die of a heart attack or stroke because of clogged arteries. Does that mean it's healthy to be an alcoholic? Alcoholics still die much younger than non-alcoholics because of liver damage and other health issues. Not to mention that the quality of their life is horrific.

Did you know that heroin addicts are much less likely to catch colds? Heroin was originally regarded as a "miracle drug" because it protects the body against certain types of colds and infections. Does that mean we should become heroin addicts? Heroin addicts die much younger than non-addicts because of the other effects of the drug. Of course, as with alcoholics, the quality of their life is also a nightmare.

There is no dispute that cigarette smokers die much younger than non-smokers on average. There is no dispute that cigarettes cause heart disease and cancer. Even the tobacco companies acknowledge that smoking greatly increases the chances of heart disease and cancer.

I suppose tomorrow someone will open a thread claiming that jumping off a high building is healthy for some reason.

[kyel]

That's BS marketed by the cigarette companies.

No they're not why would cigarette companies make a company to take away consumers from them. An e-cigarette has vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, and optional nicotine and flavoring heated to create a mist. People just slam e-cigarettes because they look like smoking especially the early ones  that were built like cigarettes. It's not smoking there is no smoke or smell its simply a nicotine replacement therapy. Also there is a lot of fake articles by the tobacco propaganda machine so people don't switch to them. We have one of the opportunities to reduce and eliminate tobacco use but the FDA won't even study them.

Why do you want people to continue being smokers?

[Lewinsky Stinks, Dr. Brennan Rocks]

בס''ד

Did you know that alcoholics usually have very clean arteries? That means they are much less likely to die of a heart attack or stroke because of clogged arteries. Does that mean it's healthy to be an alcoholic? Alcoholics still die much younger than non-alcoholics because of liver damage and other health issues. Not to mention that the quality of their life is horrific.

Did you know that heroin addicts are much less likely to catch colds? Heroin was originally regarded as a "miracle drug" because it protects the body against certain types of colds and infections. Does that mean we should become heroin addicts? Heroin addicts die much younger than non-addicts because of the other effects of the drug. Of course, as with alcoholics, the quality of their life is also a nightmare.

There is no dispute that cigarette smokers die much younger than non-smokers on average. There is no dispute that cigarettes cause heart disease and cancer. Even the tobacco companies acknowledge that smoking greatly increases the chances of heart disease and cancer.

I suppose tomorrow someone will open a thread claiming that jumping off a high building is healthy for some reason.

Chaim, I agree with you but I don't think Fibrogirl was actually advocating smoking. I think it was just an interesting story in her eyes.

[syyuge]

It can only indicate that Nicotine can be one of the futuristic candidates for treating the diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

[Tag-MehirTzedek]

That's BS marketed by the cigarette companies.

  Naa, why? They are loosing money, even if it is them who would be selling it. A pack of e-cigs cost ~ $12 and one get's 5 cartridges which is about 2 (maybe 1) pack each. So that is equivalent to 10 packs of cigarettes for $12.    Or $2.5/pack.

 

[kyel]

  Naa, why? They are loosing money, even if it is them who would be selling it. A pack of e-cigs cost ~ $12 and one get's 5 cartridges which is about 2 (maybe 1) pack each. So that is equivalent to 10 packs of cigarettes for $12.    Or $2.5/pack.

That is just the first generation of e-cigs that are made to look like cigarettes and are non-refillable. You can make your own e-cig juices for 45 cents in bulk or online or at a store for 5-8 dollars for 10 ML of juice which would last most people from a few days to a week. I think most people are moving away from the pre-packaged e-cigs to personal vaporizers as they become more known.

[Kahane-Was-Right BT]

No they're not why would cigarette companies make a company to take away consumers from them.

From what I have read, the cigarette companies believe that the success of an ecig market will expand the cigarette market (not hard to guess why), and I. Also remember reading these companies either have large stakes in the ecig companies or plan to sell ecigs themselves, I don't remember which (maybe its both).   Perhaps you weren't aware of this.  Without a doubt, the claims that ecigs are healthy are completely unproven.

Why do you want people to continue being smokers?

Huh?  It is very possible to quit smoking.  I know several people who were addicted and simply quit out of concern for their children and for their own health.  But hey let's get millions of kids hooked on ecigs and then find out 20 years from now it causes health problems! Great idea!

[kyel]

From what I have read, the cigarette companies believe that the success of an ecig market will expand the cigarette market (not hard to guess why), and I. Also remember reading these companies either have large stakes in the ecig companies or plan to sell ecigs themselves, I don't remember which (maybe its both).   Perhaps you weren't aware of this.  Without a doubt, the claims that ecigs are healthy are completely unproven.
Huh?  It is very possible to quit smoking.  I know several people who were addicted and simply quit out of concern for their children and for their own health.  But hey let's get millions of kids hooked on ecigs and then find out 20 years from now it causes health problems! Great idea!

I have never heard of e-cigs trying to allure people to smoking and personally don't see anyone going from e-cigs to cigs since e-cigs are much more pleasant and don't have social consquences like bad smell. E-cigarette testimonials universally report better sense of smell, taste and lung function. Why don't you start regulating coffee use? Nicotine and caffeine have practically the same effects on people and addictive properties. E-cigs have the potential to be the biggest smoking cessation device in the world and most effective but of course people make bombastic claims like they "are made for children"

http://wtkr.com/2013/10/14/studies-disprove-some-negative-health-risks-associated-with-e-cigs/

The study revealed that “the levels of contaminants e-cig users are exposed to are insignificant, far below levels that would pose any health risk. Additionally, there is no health risk to bystanders. Proposals to ban e-cigarettes in places where smoking is banned have been based on concern there is a potential risk to bystanders, but the study shows there is no concern.”

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20130424-714549.html

U.S. cigarette volumes, weakened recently as higher energy prices and an increase to payroll taxes dented consumers' wallets, are also being cannibalized by the soaring popularity of e-cigarettes.

Lorillard Inc. (LO) and Reynolds American Inc. (RAI) told analysts during their first-quarter presentations that rising consumer interest in e-cigarettes were a factor that contributed to the industry's 6.2% drop in traditional cigarette volumes in the first quarter.

[nessuno]

בס''ד

Did you know that alcoholics usually have very clean arteries? That means they are much less likely to die of a heart attack or stroke because of clogged arteries. Does that mean it's healthy to be an alcoholic? Alcoholics still die much younger than non-alcoholics because of liver damage and other health issues. Not to mention that the quality of their life is horrific.

Did you know that heroin addicts are much less likely to catch colds? Heroin was originally regarded as a "miracle drug" because it protects the body against certain types of colds and infections. Does that mean we should become heroin addicts? Heroin addicts die much younger than non-addicts because of the other effects of the drug. Of course, as with alcoholics, the quality of their life is also a nightmare.

There is no dispute that cigarette smokers die much younger than non-smokers on average. There is no dispute that cigarettes cause heart disease and cancer. Even the tobacco companies acknowledge that smoking greatly increases the chances of heart disease and cancer.

I suppose tomorrow someone will open a thread claiming that jumping off a high building is healthy for some reason.

Patients who have received cardiac stents and resume smoking after discharge often return with occluded stents (in my experience).
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5579290_effect-nicotine-cardiac-stents.html