Smoke signals a cure for Parkinson’s
In a fascinating twist of logic, the cigarette, a known carcinogen, is blowing smoke in the face of a debilitating disorder.
Smokers are proving unlikely aides in the fight against Parkinson’s Disease, a degenerative neurological condition that affects 70,000 Australians and costs the nation an estimated $6.8 billion a year.
Associate Professor George Mellick (pictured) and his team at the Eskitis Institute for Cell and Molecular Therapies are piecing together a scientific explanation for why there is a lower incidence of the disease among the smoking population.
“We are looking at the components of cigarette smoke to see if we can identify which chemicals may offer protection; however, we are also investigating whether other factors, such as genetics, may be involved,” Professor Mellick said.
“While the link between smoking and a reduced risk of Parkinson’s Disease is not a new discovery, research to this point has concentrated on the smoking or on genetics – not both of them together. We think the interactions between them may be the key here,” he said.
“We have all but ruled out the possibility that behaviours common to smokers, and not the inhalation of smoke, are the sole reason for the reduced risk of the disease. We found passive smokers were also less susceptible to the disease, just like smokers, which indicates it is more likely the smoke, and not behavioural characteristics, that reduces the risk.
“Now, we are looking at the possibility that exposure to cigarette smoke activates a protective gene, which then safeguards a person against the disease,” Dr Mellick said.
What makes this research all the more intriguing is that exposure to pesticides doubles the risk of Parkinson’s Disease, and yet some chemicals found in pesticides are similar to those found in cigarettes. A cure for Parkinson’s may lie in their differences.
Dr Mellick’s team is also addressing under-recognised psychological symptoms of anxiety and depression, which are very common among Parkinson’s disease sufferers.
“While Parkinson’s is known as a movement disorder, often the presence of depression and anxiety is what has the greatest impact on quality of life,” he said.
Professor Mellick agrees that his is a controversial area of study and says that the scientific community and the public need to be careful not to give smoking any kudos.
“Of course, I’m not suggesting people take up smoking to ward off the disorder – it’s probably one of the worse lifestyle choices a person can make. Rather, my team is hoping to develop new treatments by learning how cigarette smoke protects against Parkinson’s. It’s the smoke, not the smoking, that holds the benefit.”
Parkinson’s Disease is one of numerous conditions being studied at the Eskitis Institute for Cell and Molecular Therapies. Revolutionary cell therapies for spinal paralysis, Alzheimer’s, inflammatory disease and cancer, as well as neglected diseases like African sleeping sickness, Chagas disease and malaria, are also being developed.
The latest addition to the institute’s infrastructure, Eskitis 2, was officially opened by Premier Anna Bligh in April. The Queensland Government contributed $12 million in Smart State funding to its construction at the Nathan campus of Griffith University.
www.griffith.edu.au/science/eskitis-institute-cell-molecular-therapies (non-government site)
Story: Nerida Liedloff
Last reviewed 17 July 2008
