why does my mom think that nicotine is good for you, is this another weird fascy conservahippie thing
@Satsuma she texted me a facebook post where some bald man argues that nicotine is good for the mind
@Satsuma "The compound demonized in cigarettes might be a powerful medicine for Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and traumatic brain injuries. Nicotine, separate from smoking, activates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors throughout the brain. These receptors release neural stem cells from inhibition, allowing them to mature into new neurons. Nicotine also increases dopamine in Parkinson's patients, improves memory circuits, and calms agitation and traumatic brain injury and autism. Research shows smokers have reduced Alzheimer's risk especially in carriers of the ApoE4 gene. Low Dose Transdermal Nicotine patches improve cognitive function in aging nonsmokers. In neurologic damage, nicotine patches help with spinal cord patients bowel and bladder function and improve attention in brain injured patients. If you're dealing with a neurologic condition, discuss transdermal nicotine therapy with a knowledgeable physician. This controversial but evidence-backed approach might offer benefits when traditional medications fall short."
- bald man with an M.D. degree
@wallhackio do you guys know someone with parkinson’s or alzheimer’s or is she under the mistaken impression that things which are good for two diseases that have incredibly unusual impacts on how the brain works are good for people generally?
@wallhackio getting you addicted to nicotine is probably actually one of the safer interventions when it comes to parkinsons ( dopamine agonists are notorious for their unsettling side effects: https://theamericanscholar.org/the-degradation-drug/ ) but if i did not have parkinsons i would see something being an effective treatment for it as a reason NOT to do the thing as that implies pretty radical changes to ones brain chemistry and neurological functioning that i do not currently want or need
@Satsuma The idea that nicotine may be beneficial for Parkinson's patients is definitely not new: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4430096/
but given how incredibly addictive nicotine is I can't see a good reason to casually consume it for someone without the few conditions that it might be helpful for
flippant about death
@wallhackio @Satsuma Yeah, I think about half of the text in that initial block was wrong, but relieving some Parkinson's and Alzheimer's symptoms (although likely different ones!) is sort of in its bailiwick. Doesn't mean it's good for you generally, but it's not like people take up smoking for no reason at all. (Also if you've got Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, the negative effects of nicotine may be a bit less troubling. Certainly lower odds they'll catch you first.)