Do coffee and cigarettes protect against Parkinson's?

People with Parkinson's disease are less likely to be smokers and coffee drinkers than their healthy siblings, according to a study of family members. The finding adds to a growing body of evidence that some substance in tobacco might protect the brain against this devastating neurological disorder and sheds new light on coffee's effects on the disease. Researchers say the study provides new evidence that the causes of Parkinson's vary. They also stress that the negative health effects of smoking far outweigh any protective effect the substance might have against this neurodegenerative disease.Parkinson's disease, which generally strikes people over the age of 50, leads to a loss of coordination, dementia and may result in early death.For decades, scientists have found evidence suggesting that smokers are less likely to develop this illness than non-smokers. But experts believe that genes can influence one's risk of developing Parkinson's, and the vast majority of these studies involved participants who were unrelated and therefore genetically dissimilar. To control for this genetic variability, William Scott of the University of Miami in Florida, US, and his colleagues studied the smoking and coffee-drinking habits of Parkinson's patients and their family members. Close relatives...