They’re not sure whether it is a cause or correlation, but schizophrenics report that it helps control their symptoms. About 50% of pt’s with schizophrenia (now often diagnosed as bipolar) smoke. Supposedly smoking also shows some benefit in Alzheimer’s as well.
I’m a retired nurse, and at one time worked on an Alzheimer’s unit. I recall a patient who used to have a cigarette in the afternoon with a cup of real coffee, and was able to have a short coherent conversation as a result, although it didn’t change her basic disease progression. Too bad she couldn’t live with her smokes and her caffeine all the time, might have slowed it down...
I’m a smoker, about 5-10 per day depending on the stress level. No doctor has ever told me to quit.
Also, I’m thinking that for patients with metabolic syndrome, keeping the weight down might help mitigate some of the cardiac risk factors as well as delaying the onset of diabetes.