E-CIG for prevention of Parkinsons?

[Krickster]

DIGG IT!

Electronic Cigarettes for prevention of Parkinson's Disease!

 

[Krickster]

I just noticed that JimStanmore posted the article in the FDA suit thread.

Here is the other story he refers:

Even better - CNNMoney:

DIGG IT: CNN: E-Cigs for Treatment of Parkinsin's Disease

Thanks Jim!

(PLEASE DIGG THEM BOTH!)

 

[Kate51]

Nicotine has been on the front burner for awhile now in the preventive and therapuetic treatment of Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and ADD ADHD, all possibly related.
That's why my lowest nicotine intake is going to stay where it is for awhile, in the 12mg/ml category, just hoping to end up with my mind and body in synch and operating within proper parameters! I'm 62 years old, not going to take any chances.
Nicotine doesn't kill, smoke kills.

 

[crmartin]

I find this info on their site (THE ELECTRIC CIGARETTE) somewhat bogus.

Q: Are smokeless cigarettes approved by the FDA?
A: The Alcohol and tobacco Trade Bureau (TTB) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have formally stated that smokeless cigarettes are not a product that warrants the involvement or oversight of either government entity. The FDA notes that electric cigarettes do not fit the classification of products it governs. The TTB (tobacco and Taxation Bureau, formally the ATF, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms) has formally determined that the TTB has no regulatory interest in the smokeless cigarette industry because it does not contain tobacco.

 

[JerryRM]

I find this info on their site (THE ELECTRIC CIGARETTE) somewhat bogus.

Q: Are smokeless cigarettes approved by the FDA?
A: The Alcohol and Tobacco Trade Bureau (TTB) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have formally stated that smokeless cigarettes are not a product that warrants the involvement or oversight of either government entity. The FDA notes that electric cigarettes do not fit the classification of products it governs. The TTB (Tobacco and Taxation Bureau, formally the ATF, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms) has formally determined that the TTB has no regulatory interest in the smokeless cigarette industry because it does not contain tobacco.

Yes, bogus or misinformed, considering the FDA seized shipments of e-cigs from China to Smoking Everywhere, which led to the court case that is being followed on the SE vs FDA thread.

 

[JerryRM]

DIGG IT!

Electronic Cigarettes for prevention of Parkinson's Disease!

It's certainly a plus for e-cigs, but it could lead to the FDA approving e-cigs as a prescription only drug for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease. Of course, to be manufactured by big pharma at big prices.

 

[Adik Ted]

My mother-in-law has bad parkinson's but she's so dyskinetic I doubt she could get an e-cig in her mouth. If the research is there why aren't they already prescribing nicotine patches to parkinson's sufferers?

 

[Vocalek]

They have a trademark symbol next to their product name "the Electric Cigarette" (notice they use "Electric" rather than "Electronic").

 

[Vocalek]

M mother-in-law has bad parkinson's but she's so dyskinetic I doubt she could get an e-cig in her mouth. If the research is there why aren't they already prescribing nicotine patches to parkinson's sufferers?

Research shows that smoking slows the build up of Lewy Bodies in the brain. Nicotine would not be able to reverse the disease, but it could slow down the disease progression (the buildup of additional Lewy bodies). IMHO, the structure of the research on using nicotine in Parkinson's patients does not appear to take the slow buildup of Lewy Bodies into account. Dosages may be too low and treatment times too short.

It remains unclear whether nicotine treatment can or cannot help with the motor symtoms, and if so, at what stage of the disease.

After a 1-week run-in phase, patients were randomized to receive nicotine patches (containing 17.5 mg nicotine in the first and 35.0 mg nicotine in the second and third weeks) or identically appearing placebo patches. After this treatment, 3 weeks without patch application followed. The same blinded examiner assessed the patients with the Columbia University Rating Scale, the Webster scale, the Schwab-England scale, a timed walking test, with an instrumental test for fine motor skills and hand tremor, and with the Hamilton Depression Scale. RESULTS: No significant drug effects between both groups were observed in any of the scores and quantitative tests. Side effects were mild and comparable in frequency between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: With the dosage and the period of treatment chosen, transdermal nicotine patches are not effective as an add-on treatment for symptoms of PD.

Transdermal nicotine in PD: a randomized, double-b... [Neurology. 2001] - PubMed result

This study only looked at a 12-hour window: Worsening of motor performance in patients with Pa... [Mov Disord. 1999] - PubMed result

Notice the size of the dosage in the much earlier testing conducted in Japan that showed positive results for cognitive problems:
Rinsho Shinkeigaku. 1996 Dec;36(12):1318-21.
[The role of nicotinic receptor in memory impairment: a study using event-related potentials and midlatency responses]

[Article in Japanese]
Hirata K, Katayama S.
Department of Neurology, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan.
To evaluate the efficacy of chronic nicotine administration in dementia, electrical field distributions of event-related potentials (ERPs) and midlatency response (MLR) were recorded and were analyzed in terms of time and space. The study was carried out on 22 normal individuals and 17 patients with dementia (vascular dementia, Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease). Nicotine was delivered transdermally from a nicotine patch (22.5 to 52 mg/day) for 2 or 4 weeks. Dementing patients showed abnormal ERPs in latency, amplitude and electrical field on the scalp. Decreased amplitude and electrical field abnormality of P1 in MLR was also seen in some patients with dementia. These abnormal ERPs and MLR of the patients improved after administration of nicotine especially in P300 latency of ERPs and P1 amplitude of MLR. These data suggest that nicotine administration might be useful as a cognitive enhancer in memory impairment.

 

[Kate51]

Thanks Vocalek, you are spot on...however, there is yet another benefit of nicotine, and that is the euphoric effect. It is known especially in ADD, ADHD, and to a point for all others listed including autism, that any stress peak can lead to quick decline of neuron function, the 'fight or flight' impulses, so that brain function is less affected by stress enabling the sufferer to be able to better control self-discipline. Especially necessary for concentration, memory recall and trans-communication of memory. Studies are definitely underway and on going. I can vouch personally for what I just stated!

 

[Adik Ted]

Thanks Vocalek.

 

[Redd]

I'm intrigued by the Lewy Body/Nicotine connection as my mother had been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dimentia about 10 years after she quit smoking. (cold turkey after her gall bladder ruptured and had surgery)

So I have to wonder if Mom would have had more quality end years had she remained a smoker?

Is my addiction to nicotine possibly a self medicating means of staving off my own development of LBD?

Inquiring minds need to know. LOL

(and no that's just my imaginary friend Bosco behind me...)

 

[Kate51]

I feel that NOT quitting smoking is NOT good idea for any reason. However, I do hold with my own personal opinion that there is beneficial sides to nicotine in sensible amounts.
But the chemicals and carcinogens in cigarettes are not useful to anyone, unless you're a mumification specialist.

 

[oldlady]

Actually, the stimulant effect would also explain why nicotine is also used therapeutically as an anti-depressant.

 

[Kate51]

Works for me!! Life can seem awfully cruel once in awhile, so not going to take any chances. I hear anti-depressants are dangerous.

 

[ladyraj]

Does anyone have a link to the actual study versus the PR release from USACIG?

I can't find the link at the PR firm located here http://hop-on.com/ either.

HELP...does anyone know where the study is?

 

[Raven1]

My mother-in-law has bad parkinson's but she's so dyskinetic I doubt she could get an e-cig in her mouth. If the research is there why aren't they already prescribing nicotine patches to parkinson's sufferers?

Exactly. I doubt many patients with advanced Parkinson's would be able to use the device. The patch would be a better alternative. Besides, if e-cigs got classified as a medical device, we would need a prescription to get them, so this may not be a good thing.

 

[Kamanjah]

According to the Parkinson's Institute, the study was completed in 2007 and published in the Annals of Neurology. Brief here.

Seems it was in the December 2007 publication. "Nicotine reduces levodopa-induced dyskinesias in lesioned monkeys." I can't access the full article. If anyone can, please PM me.

When I first read the press release, and since it was on CNN, I got all excited about it. My SO has PD. After looking at the two companies mentioned in the PR, there is nothing for sale, and hop-on appears to be a penny stock scam. At least it led me to the above study.

Elaine, thanks for the info you posted.

 

[Kate51]

I recall that Kate had some info on nicotine water, that's what this study was based around, I believe. But apparently without a link I can't search far enough back in the forum anymore. There's an awful lot of stuff I wish had been brought forward and saved or somehow cataloged....guess we're getting old here, guys.. I've also checked all my 'favorites' and I apparently didn't save it either.

 

[ladyraj]

Thank you so much for the links! Sometimes finding the source for information is a nightmare on the web! I'd love to read the rest of the article.

Thanks OP for the find!