Tobacco and Neurodegenerative Disorders

Abstract

The prevalence of tobacco usage has exhibited a persistent upward trend from historical records to contemporary times. This phenomenon not only impacts the individuals directly engaging in tobacco consumption but also extends its repercussions to bystanders through passive exposure. A spectrum of severe ailments, including cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diverse malignancies, immune disorders, and diabetes, is closely correlated with prolonged smoking habits. Moreover, the neurological ramifications of tobacco ingestion encompass cerebrovascular disorders, silent cerebral infarctions, and aneurysmal formations. The influence of tobacco use on neurodegenerative conditions exhibits nuanced findings within extant literature. Existing scholarship generally posits smoking as a significant element in the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease while also suggesting potential protective and disease-modifying effects in the context of Parkinson's disease. While nicotine stands as a pivotal agent driving these physiological effects of tobacco, there exists conjecture regarding the contributory roles of other constituents in either exacerbating or ameliorating disease trajectories. This chapter evaluates the effects of nicotine and other tobacco products on the development of neurodegenerative disorders via the central nervous system and the blood–brain barrier, as well as the pharmacotherapeutic interventions designed in response to these effects.