Wednesday December 14, 2005
The Guardian

Cocaine abuse could increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease in later life by making the brain more susceptible to toxins in the environment, researchers reported yesterday. Neuroscientists who carried out the study said that pregnant women who take the drug might also be raising the chances that their children will develop the condition.

The warning came after laboratory tests showed that cocaine altered nerve cells in a region of the brain called the substantia nigra, which made the nerves more susceptible to a toxin linked to Parkinson's disease.

he researchers tested the effects of cocaine on nerve cells by injecting a typical crack dose equivalent into lab mice. They found that the cocaine stopped nerve cells mopping up one of the brain's feelgood chemicals, dopamine, which in turn lead to a rise in reactive particles known as free radicals.

Although the high levels of free radicals were not enough on their own to kill off brain cells, the scientists found that once they injected low levels of MPTP - a comtoxin produced as a byproduct of the chemical industry - the nerves began to die. "What seems to be happening is that although each in isolation would not be a big problem, there is a synergistic effect that makes the nerves more susceptible to damage if cocaine has been used," said Richard Smeyne, a neurobiologist at St Jude Children's Research hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

In view of the rise in cocaine usage that has peaked in the US but is continuing in Britain, the research suggests Parkinson's may become a growing problem in future.

"Based on these findings, it might not be surprising to see a rise in the number of cases of Parkinson's disease in the next 10 or 20 years or so," said Dr Smeyne, whose research appears in the journal Neuroscience.

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heck, cocaine used to be added to Coca Cola way back when, how did America survive?

Quoted: Wednesday December 14, 2005 The Guardian Cocaine abuse could increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease in later life by making the brain more susceptible to toxins in the environment, researchers reported yesterday. Neuroscientists who carried out the study said that pregnant women who take the drug might also be raising the chances that their children will develop the condition. The warning came after laboratory tests showed that cocaine altered nerve cells in a region of the brain called the substantia nigra, which made the nerves more susceptible to a toxin linked to Parkinson's disease. he researchers tested the effects of cocaine on nerve cells by injecting a typical crack dose equivalent into lab mice. They found that the cocaine stopped nerve cells mopping up one of the brain's feelgood chemicals, dopamine, which in turn lead to a rise in reactive particles known as free radicals. Although the high levels of free radicals were not enough on their own to kill off brain cells, the scientists found that once they injected low levels of MPTP - a comtoxin produced as a byproduct of the chemical industry - the nerves began to die. "What seems to be happening is that although each in isolation would not be a big problem, there is a synergistic effect that makes the nerves more susceptible to damage if cocaine has been used," said Richard Smeyne, a neurobiologist at St Jude Children's Research hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. In view of the rise in cocaine usage that has peaked in the US but is continuing in Britain, the research suggests Parkinson's may become a growing problem in future. "Based on these findings, it might not be surprising to see a rise in the number of cases of Parkinson's disease in the next 10 or 20 years or so," said Dr Smeyne, whose research appears in the journal Neuroscience. --------- heck, cocaine used to be added to Coca Cola way back when, how did America survive?

Well, everything wasn't rubber bumpered, sanitized, and individually packaged for your protection. In other words, we weren't such pussies....


Figure it out folks, anything that feels good, tastes good, or is fun, is bad for you and will be banned for your protection.

Quoted: Figure it out folks, anything that feels good, tastes good, or is fun, is bad for you and will be banned for your protection.

Look on the bright side:
If they ban sex, there'll be no need for all the abortion threads in GD

Quoted: Quoted: Figure it out folks, anything that feels good, tastes good, or is fun, is bad for you and will be banned for your protection. Look on the bright side: If they ban sex, there'll be no need for all the abortion threads in GD

Or the BOTD, or the Divorce threads....Waitaminute! They can have my porn when they...you know how the rest goes...

All I wanna know is, what is fun? Why is it colored bright pink? And where does it go when Billy Graham shows up?

I dont use cocaine.  Tell me if negative side effects of PCP occur.

Quoted: Look on the bright side: If they ban sex, there'll be no need for all the abortion threads in GD

When they ban sex, only criminals will have sex

Quoted: Quoted: Or the BOTD, or the Divorce threads....Waitaminute! They can have my porn when they...you know how the rest goes... when they pry it from your sticky fingers?

Well I was gonna say "when they take all my DVD's", but I guess yours works too....

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Figure it out folks, anything that feels good, tastes good, or is fun, is bad for you and will be banned for your protection. Look on the bright side: If they ban sex, there'll be no need for all the abortion threads in GD Or the BOTD, or the Divorce threads....Waitaminute! They can have my porn when they...you know how the rest goes... All I wanna know is, what is fun? Why is it colored bright pink? And where does it go when Billy Graham shows up?

Shrinkage....explained...

Oh my...now THAT is a revelation...that cocaine fucks up you brain and makes you susceptable to a severe neurological disease.  

Wow!

Sounds like the chemical companies need to stop mucking up the world.

Quoted: Cocaine abuse could increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease in later life by making the brain more susceptible to toxins in the environment, researchers reported yesterday. Neuroscientists who carried out the study said that pregnant women who take the drug might also be raising the chances that their children will develop the condition.

Yeah, 'might'.  Because 99% of people with Parkinson's disease are over age 60, and I don't believe the researchers found hundreds of 80 year-old women who used cocaine during their pregnancy to prove it.

I remember seeing 'cocaine babies' during my pediatrics rotation.  The mom's would invariably find some way to blame the doctors and nurses for their fucked up babies.

I remember seeing some side by side brain bloodflow scans of cocaine addicts vs. regular people.  The cocaine users had very noticeable blotches of lower bloodflow.

It definitely messes with the hardwiring in your brain.  Once you've had a taste of it you'll never be quite the same again.  

Get around with somebody who's done cocaine more than a few times in their lives and just say the word "cocaine" and watch them start twitching their nose, smacking their lips and sniffling.

I'm waiting to see the link between X and Alzheimer's that's some doctors claim.  Going to be a lot of forgetful folks in 40 or so years.

Quoted: It definitely messes with the hardwiring in your brain.  Once you've had a taste of it you'll never be quite the same again.   Get around with somebody who's done cocaine more than a few times in their lives and just say the word "cocaine" and watch them start twitching their nose, smacking their lips and sniffling.

You will not be able to see his eyes because of Tea-Shades, but his knuckles will be white from inner tension, and his pants will be crusted with semen from constantly jacking off when he can't find a rape victim. He will stagger and babble when questioned. He will not respect your authority. The Dope Fiend fears nothing. He will attack for no reason, with every weapon at his command — including yours. Beware. Any officer apprehending a suspected marijuana addict should use all necessary force immediately. One stitch in time — on him — will usually save nine — on you.

you think coke is bad? natural cortical stimulant most addictive substance after nicotine...

but methadrine, amphetamine, ritalin and friends are probably worse. one dose of coke last less than 30 minutes, the other stuff lasts all day.

and that's what every teacher in amerika thinks every male student under their tutelage needs to be on... to keep them under control...

so if coke is bad for you in your latter years. .. what you bet they find out some day that all the ritalin/amphetamine/methadrine (desoxyn is used in some cases) dosed start to reach middle age......

Quoted: It definitely messes with the hardwiring in your brain.  Once you've had a taste of it you'll never be quite the same again.   Get around with somebody who's done cocaine more than a few times in their lives and just say the word "cocaine" and watch them start twitching their nose, smacking their lips and sniffling.

Wow. That is the dumbest thing I have read all week. What complete and utter bull shit. Unless you are kidding. In that case you forgot the winky.

Bob