IUBio

Schizophrenia/Nicotine Question

john john at i-zone.demon.co.uk
Mon Apr 7 14:38:47 EST 1997


On Tue, 01 Apr 1997 19:53:38 -0800, CDW <rastaman at mail.utexas.edu>
wrote:

>I'm a university student who has had an interest in biochemical 
>psychology since taking a class about a year ago. 
>
>Recently I saw an article in the newspaper in which it was reported that 
>studies had proven a connection between heavy smoking (nicotine intake) 
>and a lessening of the severity and frequency of schizophrenic episodes. 
>The article vaguely mentioned the neurochemical basis of this, but was 
>very brief and unclear. Can anyone here please explain the chemical 
>action in the brain by which nicotine "soothes" psychotic behaviors?
>
>If this question, or this type of question, is inappropriate to this 
>newsgroup, then I beg your forgiveness. Otherwise, I would very much 
>appreciate any answer.
>
>Thanks for your time,
>chris
>(rastaman at mail.utexas.edu)

Hello

I'm not a neuroscientist, just an interested person.. I seem to recall
seeing the following in a book entitled 'aids to pharmacology'. it
stated that (after quite a long chapter on increased risks associated
with smoking) one of the decreased risks was susceptibility to
parkinson's disease.

Whether this is due to increased mortality of smokers or the effect of
nicotine on the brain, it didn't say.

John





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