Nicotine By-product Reduces Alzheimer's Telltale Plaques

Scientific American ^ | June 17, 2003 | Sarah Graham

[tdadams]

The downsides of smoking are plentiful, ranging from stained fingers and teeth to an increased risk of lung cancer. But one potential upside was discovered recently when research suggested that cigarette smoking may delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Findings published online this week by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences indicate that nornicotine, a by-product of nicotine, could be responsible for this protective effect.

Kim Janda and Tobin Dickerson of the Scripps Research Institute tested the effect of nornicotine on amyloid beta proteins, which aggregate into the plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, the researchers found that a reaction known as glycation, which occurs between the molecule and sugars, alters amyloid proteins so that fewer plaques can form. The authors note that together with nicotine, nornicotine is an intriguing and potentially valuable treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Both compounds are toxic, however, so the scientists suggest investigating new therapies that can mimic their beneficial results without harmful side effects.

[tdadams]

Wow, this is great news smokers! Puff away, save yourselves from Alzheimer's.

/sarcasm

[sticker]

My wife and kids took my cigars away after my heart attack and bypasses, maybe I need to show them this.

[HELLRAISER II]

The govt., the scientist & the researches are full of $hit sometimes. If it gives you pleasure they're alway's going to tell you it's bad for you and sometimes it truly is, but this if it's true is just an example of how they twist the truths on both sides. Another example is butter & fats, for years we heard from them eat margarine, it's safer for you than regular butter. But low and behold butter is actually better for you, hell my grand pa smoked from age 7 till the day he died age 81. He ate fried fish, bacon & pure lard on his food and I imagine if I live that long supposedly eating healthy I'll be amazed.

[DoughtyOne]

Last I heard a bullet to the head will also stop the advance of Alzheimer's, so they are obviously on the right track.

[WellsFargo94]

Don't get too excited. My father smoked from WWII era as a young soldier until he was in his early 50's. He had early onset Alzheimer's and was in a nursing home (completely unaware) by the time he was 62 year old. He passed away at the age of 72 years old.

[azhenfud]

Wanna smoke?
No thinks...

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[TheSpottedOwl]

My mom was a clean living sort of person, meaning that she didn't drink or smoke. She's in a board and care facility for Alzheimers. Alzheimers is a horrible thing to see; my mom needs to be on psychiatric meds because she became violent. In fact she was off her meds for a brief period during hip replacement surgery and slugged a nurse : (

[Humidston]

Bull! My mom was a chain smoker and died of Alzheimers in 1999. At that time, the nursing home had a "smokers' room" where we'd take her and even though she couldn't walk or eat on her own, nor even speak, she'd immediately pucker her lips for those cigarette drags.

[Argh]

Ping!

[Just another Joe]

This isn't the first we've heard of this nor is it the last.
Whether or not nicotine, or nornicotine, delays the onset of Alzheimers does not, and will not, matter to your normal anti-smoker. They don't care about the health of the smoker, they don't care that ETS, after millions and millions of dollars and decades of research, hasn't been proven to harm the average person, they just don't like the smell.
The honest ones will admit to as much.

[tnlibertarian]

Great! So I will be able to remember that I died from lung cancer!

[Humidston]

Ok I'll bite.... What or who is ETS?

>>hasn't been proven to harm the average person<<

And what, exactly does that mean? That smoking has NO victims?

[Humidston]

Bump for an answer...;-)

[Humidston]

bumpity bump

[Humidston]

....chicken.

[Just another Joe]

ETS stands for Environmental Tobacco Smoke, also known as SHS or Second Hand Smoke.
There hasn't been an undisputed study yet that says ETS harms the average person unless they have a pre-existing medical condition.
The WHO (World Health Organization) did one of the biggest studies to date and found no statistically significant data to suggest anything of that nature.
They tried to bury that study quite fast but it got out anyhow.

[A. Pole]

But one potential upside was discovered recently when research suggested that cigarette smoking may delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Not just recently. It was known for a long time that there are much fewer smokers among Alzheimer victims. And the same applies to Parkinson.

Most of the risk associated with tobacco is caused by inhaling smoke. So the benefits from cigars and pipes (which you use without inhaling) can be bigger than risk.

[Humidston]

Ok. I thought ETS was some organization. And I agree with their findings. I've never seen data to prove ETS is injurious to non-smokers, so I agree completely. Until we see data to prove otherwise, I heartily agree that smoke can't hurt bystanders.

BUT, since I love FReepers, I'm going on record here to say that every time you raise that damned cigarette to your lips and take that long, relaxing drag, you're playing Russian Roulette with your life.

I know. It happened to me. I can't smoke anymore because my lungs are fried and I'm probably going to die gasping for air. Nowadays I can only inhale my inhalers. And a nice walk in the woods is out of the question, as are several other activities I used to enjoy. Please don't be as stupid as I was...

[MalcolmS]

>>>Not just recently. It was known for a long time that there are much fewer smokers among Alzheimer victims. And the same applies to Parkinson. <<<

That's true. As a result, I've been saying for a while that if I ever think I'm coming down with Alzheimer symptoms, I'm going on the Nicotine patch. If I can remember to, of course . . .