Parkinson’s drug helps alleviate nicotine withdrawal symptoms
November 22, 2024 by advancedsciencenews.com
Parkinson’s drug helps alleviate nicotine withdrawal symptoms
Researchers connected symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and nicotine withdrawal through cholinergic interneurons in the brain's striatum. They found that inhibiting these neurons helped ease both conditions. A study using a mouse model altered with inhibited neurons showed reduced tremors during nicotine withdrawal. Repurposing the Parkinson's drug procyclidine also alleviated withdrawal symptoms, even boosting mobility. Further research will explore potential drug combinations for more effective smoking cessation treatments. This discovery offers a promising approach, linking Parkinson's treatment to nicotine withdrawal relief.
