Nicotine in Parkinson's Disease - a Therapeutic Track Gone up in Smoke?

NEJM Evid. 2023 Sep;2(9):EVIDe2300167. doi: 10.1056/EVIDe2300167. Epub 2023 Aug 22.

Abstract

In recent decades, numerous studies have found that smoking or the intake of any form of nicotine, such as smokeless tobacco, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, or even dietary sources such as peppers, reduces the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.1 Such observations suggest a potential disease-modifying effect of nicotine in Parkinson's disease. Many experimental studies, some of them supported by grants from the tobacco industry, have lent support for such a hypothesis.

Publication types

  • Editorial

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Nicotine / analysis
  • Parkinson Disease* / drug therapy
  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution* / analysis
  • Tobacco, Smokeless*

Substances

  • Nicotine
  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution