Nicotine

[DrBruce72]

Nicotine has proven to be a preventative to developing Parkinson's. Is there anything to suggest that nicotine patches might help symptoms? Or slow progress?

[Bolt_Upright]

Hi Dr Bruce, I believe research has shown a correlation with smoking and lower rates of PD. I don't think they narrowed it down to the nicotine and it is definitely not anywhere near 100% preventative.

They did do a study using nicotine patches in 2023 evidence.nejm.org/doi/full/... and the people on the nicotine had their PD progress faster than the control group. We had a great thread on this last week: healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

Scroll down to my post in that thread and you will see all the details of the study.

Good luck.

[MarionP]

"Proven"?

[crewmanwhite]

Nicotine does NOT prevent Parkinson's or delay its onset.

It does, however, disguise the illness process so that, once symptoms appear, they are more advanced than would otherwise be the case.

Find the causes and get well. It is possible.

[AGH_1966]

As a veteran of nearly 40,000 cigarettes who nevertheless has PD, Dr Bruce, I am feeling a touch unlucky. Where did it all go wrong for me? 😆

[busters_dad]

Correlation does not equal causation.

[DrBruce72]

Thanks for the replies. Very helpful. By the way, I am an academic Dr (psychology) not medical. I am fortunate to have slow progress PD. Best wishes for 2025, Bruce

[xhealth]

Hi! There is a fascinating theory about tobacco leaves sucking lithium from the soil being the reason why smoking may help prevent PD. I've been using low-dose (20mg) three times a week for years. I believe Dr. Laura Mischley recommends low-dose lithium supplementation.

[mhberman]

You''ll find better results with transcranial photobiomodulation using 1070nm near-infrared light and brainwave biofeedback training. We've been using these tools along with functional medicine and body-centered psychotherapy for 18+ years. See some publications at Researchgate. Marvin Berman PhD Founder & President Quietmind Foundation