[GUEST ACCESS MODE: Data is scrambled or limited to provide examples. Make requests using your API key to unlock full data. Check https://lunarcrush.ai/auth for authentication information.]  Michael Okun [@MichaelOkun](/creator/twitter/MichaelOkun) on x 37.9K followers Created: 2025-07-14 10:58:53 UTC Nicotine in Parkinson’s, is it a friend or foe? There is a long-standing puzzle in Parkinson’s research that smokers have a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. A new deep-dive review by Kumari, Cooke and Olsen in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease explores the many mechanisms by which nicotine (and not smoking) might protect the brain. Spoiler alert: don’t light up or run out to get patches. Key Points: - Nicotine protects dopamine neurons in lab and animal models by reducing oxidative stress, modulating mitochondrial function and by dampening inflammation. - Nicotinic receptors and especially α4β2 and α6β2 are closely tied to dopamine release in the striatum. - Clinical trials in humans show mixed results w/ many limited by tolerability, dosage or design of the trial. - There is no solid evidence for disease modification of nicotine in Parkinson's. My take: The idea that smokers end up w/ less Parkinson's disease continues to stump the experts. Also, replacing nicotine has not proven useful in the setting of Parkinson's. Here are the X points of this review article that resonated w/ me. 1- Smoking is NOT a treatment for Parkinson’s, however scientists are studying nicotine to understand how it might protect brain cells. 2- Nicotine may shield key dopamine producing cells in the brain from damage in experimental animal models. 3- There are many ways nicotine might help and these include reducing inflammation and helping cells to better manage stress. 4- Patches and pills with nicotine have been tested, however they haven’t consistently helped real people with Parkinson’s. 5- The goal of research on nicotine is not to promote nicotine, but rather to understand how it may work. If we unlock the mystery, can develop safer and smarter treatments that may mimic its benefits w/o all the risks? My bottom line: We should not be prescribing nicotine in Parkinson's, but we should be paying attention to what it’s teaching us. #parkinson #nicotine #smokers @FixelInstitute @ParkinsonDotOrg @journal_PD  XXXXX engagements  **Related Topics** [smoking](/topic/smoking) [nicotine](/topic/nicotine) [Post Link](https://x.com/MichaelOkun/status/1944713204598284446)
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Michael Okun @MichaelOkun on x 37.9K followers
Created: 2025-07-14 10:58:53 UTC
Nicotine in Parkinson’s, is it a friend or foe? There is a long-standing puzzle in Parkinson’s research that smokers have a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. A new deep-dive review by Kumari, Cooke and Olsen in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease explores the many mechanisms by which nicotine (and not smoking) might protect the brain. Spoiler alert: don’t light up or run out to get patches. Key Points:
- Nicotine protects dopamine neurons in lab and animal models by reducing oxidative stress, modulating mitochondrial function and by dampening inflammation.
- Nicotinic receptors and especially α4β2 and α6β2 are closely tied to dopamine release in the striatum.
- Clinical trials in humans show mixed results w/ many limited by tolerability, dosage or design of the trial.
- There is no solid evidence for disease modification of nicotine in Parkinson's. My take: The idea that smokers end up w/ less Parkinson's disease continues to stump the experts. Also, replacing nicotine has not proven useful in the setting of Parkinson's. Here are the X points of this review article that resonated w/ me. 1- Smoking is NOT a treatment for Parkinson’s, however scientists are studying nicotine to understand how it might protect brain cells. 2- Nicotine may shield key dopamine producing cells in the brain from damage in experimental animal models. 3- There are many ways nicotine might help and these include reducing inflammation and helping cells to better manage stress. 4- Patches and pills with nicotine have been tested, however they haven’t consistently helped real people with Parkinson’s. 5- The goal of research on nicotine is not to promote nicotine, but rather to understand how it may work. If we unlock the mystery, can develop safer and smarter treatments that may mimic its benefits w/o all the risks? My bottom line: We should not be prescribing nicotine in Parkinson's, but we should be paying attention to what it’s teaching us.
#parkinson #nicotine #smokers @FixelInstitute @ParkinsonDotOrg @journal_PD
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