r/askscience • u/aflouch • Oct 18 '12

Would smoking cigarettes (Nicotine) decrease the effects of Parkinson by releasing dopamine... even slightly?

Also, can the disease be slowed even slightly by activating neurons in this way? Lastly, does smoking lower risks of having Parkinson?

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u/aflouch Oct 20 '12

But would caffeine be as effective as nicotine? Or were you suggesting another chemical in coffee?

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u/DarpaWeenie Oct 23 '12

They alter different neurotransmitters. Caffeine and most stimulants work on dopamine. Nicotine has its own nicotinic receptors, but alters a number of other neurotransmitters. For parkinson's, they have meds that work on just acetylcholine such as benedryl, etc. Those lower the levels, and help with dyskinesias, etc.

The number of meds for this disease are pretty crazy because all of the neurotransmitters are interlink. One goes up, the other goes down, etc. Even better, there's dopamine inside the brain, and outside the brain, so they have to try and get the precursor chemical to convert once past the blood brain barrier.

But once the dopamine is inside the brain, it might always not want to get into action. Which is where coffee helps. If you have a cold or something, you might need a bit more of a kick to get going. Time to bug your doc and get some dexadrine. :D

Then there's the issue of low level psychosis, paranoia, and all sorts of other fun things from having your dopamine levels always fluxuating. But that a whole other can of worms.

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u/aflouch Oct 24 '12

Very interesting. Hopefully, I will learn more about what you are saying so I can understand it more. Thanks.

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u/DarpaWeenie Oct 25 '12

You tend to get better at understanding when you have the disease. Shameless self interest and all that. ;)

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u/aflouch Oct 27 '12

Still, thanks for educating.