The nicotine in tobacco may have
benefits |
A
by-product of cigarette smoke could help doctors find treatments for
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Cotinine is formed when the body breaks down nicotine, but does
not cause the same side effects, such as addiction.
Scientists from the Medical College of Georgia found that it
appeared to protect brain cells and boost memory.
However, presenting their work at a conference in New Orleans,
they said that patients who took up smoking would still cause more
harm than good.
Both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are degenerative brain diseases
for which there is no currently no cure.
They are caused by the gradual loss of different types of brain
cell.
Alzheimer's patients tend to suffer gradually encroaching memory
loss and confusion, among other symptoms, while those with
Parkinson's have increasing tremor and mobility problems.
Nicotine breakdown
Nicotine is the prime habit-forming ingredient in tobacco - and
while it has some pleasureable effects on the brain, it can also
cause constricted blood vessels, stomach cramps and nausea.
Cotinine, long
considered a relatively inert chemical, is produced when the body
breaks nicotine down, and it is passed out of the body in the urine.
Tests on monkeys given a dose of cotinine found that it boosted
their memory while playing a computer based game.
Laboratory-based work has also showed it could prevent the death
of cells exposed to conditions that would normally kill them.
More research needed
Dr Jerry Buccafusco, who led the Georgia research, said: "Many
people have thought that the drug was essentially an inactive
metabolite, but we have shown that at appropriate doses, it is
memory enhancing, neuro-protective and it has antipsychotic
activities.
"We hope this new appreciation for cotinine's potential will
encourage people to take a new look at it, and if not the drug
itself, perhaps design newer compounds based on its structure that
have fewer side effects than existing therapies."
Dr Michael Kuhar, from Emory University, said that Parkinson's or
Alzheimer's patients should not be encouraged to take up smoking in
an effort to expose their brains to cotinine.
He said: "Any benefits from the nicotine in cigarettes or other
tobacco products are far outweighed by the proven harm of using
those products.
"But pure nicotine-like compounds as medications do show promise
for treating human disorders."
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Printable version
Any benefits from the nicotine in
cigarettes or other tobacco products are far outweighed by the
proven harm of using those products 
