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Item Smoking, coffee intake, and Parkinson's disease: Potential protective mechanisms and components.(Elsevier B.V., 2024-12-20) Hong SW; Page R; Truman PParkinson's disease (PD) is a common progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Environmental and lifestyle factors, such as smoking and coffee drinking, have been associated with a decreased risk for PD. However, the biological mechanisms underlying protective effects on PD are still not fully understood. It has been suggested that non-nicotine components in cigarette smoke and non-caffeine components in coffee may contribute to this protective effect. The aim of this review was to explore candidate molecules and mechanisms behind the effects of smoking and coffee drinking on PD by integrating findings from previous studies. By cross-referencing an index of tobacco constituents and a list of coffee constituents with existing literature on natural compounds and their structural analogs that show inhibitory activities against monoamine oxidase B, catechol O-methyltransferase, and α-synuclein fibrillation, we have identified tobacco and coffee components that inhibit these targets. Furthermore, tobacco and coffee components potentially play roles in suppressing neuroinflammation, activating the Nrf2 pathway as natural activators, and altering the gut microbiome. This review suggests that the phenolic compounds from tobacco and coffee investigated may contribute to the low incidence of PD in smokers and coffee drinkers, showing moderate to strong potential as therapeutic interventions. The current review suggests that multifunctional molecules found in coffee and cigarette smoke may have potential neuroprotective effects, but none of the data indicates that multifunctionality is required for these effects. This review will deepen our understanding of how smoking and coffee drinking are linked to a reduced risk of PD and will also be important in elucidating the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of smoking and coffee drinking on PD.Item Determinants of cognitive performance and decline in 20 diverse ethno-regional groups: A COSMIC collaboration cohort study(Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2019-07) Lipnicki DM; Makkar SR; Crawford JD; Thalamuthu A; Kochan NA; Lima-Costa MF; Castro-Costa E; Ferri CP; Brayne C; Stephan B; Llibre-Rodriguez JJ; Llibre-Guerra JJ; Valhuerdi-Cepero AJ; Lipton RB; Katz MJ; Derby CA; Ritchie K; Ancelin M-L; Carrière I; Scarmeas N; Yannakoulia M; Hadjigeorgiou GM; Lam L; Chan W-C; Fung A; Guaita A; Vaccaro R; Davin A; Kim KW; Han JW; Suh SW; Riedel-Heller SG; Roehr S; Pabst A; van Boxtel M; Köhler S; Deckers K; Ganguli M; Jacobsen EP; Hughes TF; Anstey KJ; Cherbuin N; Haan MN; Aiello AE; Dang K; Kumagai S; Chen T; Narazaki K; Ng TP; Gao Q; Nyunt MSZ; Scazufca M; Brodaty H; Numbers K; Trollor JN; Meguro K; Yamaguchi S; Ishii H; Lobo A; Lopez-Anton R; Santabárbara J; Leung Y; Lo JW; Popovic G; Sachdev PS; for Cohort Studies of Memory in an International Consortium (COSMIC)Background With no effective treatments for cognitive decline or dementia, improving the evidence base for modifiable risk factors is a research priority. This study investigated associations between risk factors and late-life cognitive decline on a global scale, including comparisons between ethno-regional groups. Methods and findings We harmonized longitudinal data from 20 population-based cohorts from 15 countries over 5 continents, including 48,522 individuals (58.4% women) aged 54–105 (mean = 72.7) years and without dementia at baseline. Studies had 2–15 years of follow-up. The risk factors investigated were age, sex, education, alcohol consumption, anxiety, apolipoprotein E ε4 allele (APOE*4) status, atrial fibrillation, blood pressure and pulse pressure, body mass index, cardiovascular disease, depression, diabetes, self-rated health, high cholesterol, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, physical activity, smoking, and history of stroke. Associations with risk factors were determined for a global cognitive composite outcome (memory, language, processing speed, and executive functioning tests) and Mini-Mental State Examination score. Individual participant data meta-analyses of multivariable linear mixed model results pooled across cohorts revealed that for at least 1 cognitive outcome, age (B = −0.1, SE = 0.01), APOE*4 carriage (B = −0.31, SE = 0.11), depression (B = −0.11, SE = 0.06), diabetes (B = −0.23, SE = 0.10), current smoking (B = −0.20, SE = 0.08), and history of stroke (B = −0.22, SE = 0.09) were independently associated with poorer cognitive performance (p < 0.05 for all), and higher levels of education (B = 0.12, SE = 0.02) and vigorous physical activity (B = 0.17, SE = 0.06) were associated with better performance (p < 0.01 for both). Age (B = −0.07, SE = 0.01), APOE*4 carriage (B = −0.41, SE = 0.18), and diabetes (B = −0.18, SE = 0.10) were independently associated with faster cognitive decline (p < 0.05 for all). Different effects between Asian people and white people included stronger associations for Asian people between ever smoking and poorer cognition (group by risk factor interaction: B = −0.24, SE = 0.12), and between diabetes and cognitive decline (B = −0.66, SE = 0.27; p < 0.05 for both). Limitations of our study include a loss or distortion of risk factor data with harmonization, and not investigating factors at midlife. Conclusions These results suggest that education, smoking, physical activity, diabetes, and stroke are all modifiable factors associated with cognitive decline. If these factors are determined to be causal, controlling them could minimize worldwide levels of cognitive decline. However, any global prevention strategy may need to consider ethno-regional differences.Item Understanding the quit smoking journeys of Ngāti Raukawa women : barriers and supports : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2004) Taite, SharonThe purpose of this thesis was to record the journeys of 6 Ngāti Raukawa women who had tried to quit smoking and to identify the barriers and supports which the women experienced during quitting. A key focus of this thesis was to examine the barriers and supports for quitting which occurred within the marae, hapū and iwi environments of these women. A qualitative research approach using kaupapa Māori and Māori-centred research methods were used. The objective was achieved by undertaking in-depth qualitative interviews which identified issues around smoking and quitting within the participants daily lives, namely at work, home and in other social situations and compared these with other studies. This study extends the knowledge base about Māori women and smoking by contributing and extending the information available to influence policies and strategies at all levels, but more specifically at hapū, marae, iwi and Māori. The prominence of addressing hapū, marae and iwi issues is a unique aspect of this thesis. The participants experiences were reflective of the literature, however factors which impacted on smoking and quitting within Ngāti Raukawa hapū, marae and iwi settings were exacerbated given that in these instances cultural influences combined with other environmental factors to bring about high smoking rates. At the same time this study also showed that there is the potential to reduce smoking rates within these same settings although this will require a concerted effort from hapū, marae and iwi. What is required is a change in policy and behaviour across the whole community.Item Economic costs of smoking : an incidence approach to estimating the true cost of smoking : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Economics at Massey University(Massey University, 1996) Imai, KazutoCigarette smoking is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in New Zealand today. Links between smoking and many diseases are well established. Cigarette smoking is, however, still in fashion. Although increasing public awareness of the health risks associated with cigarette smoking has somewhat improved the current smoking patterns in recent years, the evidence regarding health risks alone is still unable to prevent some 4,000 lives from being lost every year due to smoking in New Zealand. This study focused on the economic implications of smoking from the perspective of an individual. It has produced understandable and meaningful information about the likely lifetime economic costs associated with cigarette smoking. Knowing such costs associated with cigarette smoking may well provide each individual smoker with the incentive needed for smoking cessation. The results of this study show that the economic costs of cigarette smoking is significant by any measure. The magnitude of the loss varies with gender, age and the type of disease. The greatest concern is for people, both male and female, under 60 years of age, especially for people in their forties who are expected to lose more incomes than any other people in the other age groups due to smoking induced diseases. A male smoker in that group is expected to incur up to 22 months worth of current income. A female smoker, on the other hand, is expected to incur at most 9 months worth of current income. Such costs are by no means insignificant in magnitude. With the economic costs of cigarette smoking in such an understandable and meaningful format, it is hoped, progress in smoking cessation will be more successful.Item Health attitudes and socioeconomic status: a qualitative study : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University(Massey University, 1992) O'Neill, Damian PatrickTo enhance our understanding of why lower SES people are less likely to engage in various recommended health behaviours, this qualitative exploratory study investigated attitudes towards health and smoking in fifteen upper SES and fifteen lower SES smokers. A structured open-ended interview explored dimensions of the Health Belief Model (Rosenstock, 1975) within a theoretical context informed by the social structure and personality perspective (House, 1981). Transcribed interviews were analyzed for regularities and themes. Three general attitudes or reasons emerged from the investigation which appear to underlie why lower SES people are less likely to engage in the recommended health behaviour of "not smoking". These are acceptance of lower levels of health, a perceived low effectiveness of engaging in the recommended health behaviour in preserving health and greater situational pressure to engage in the negative health behaviour. Both cultural factors and material circumstances appear to underlie these SES differences in health orientation and the implications for this are discussed.Item Te mahi kaipaipa i waenganui i nga tamahine Maori : nga ahuatanga e pa ana ki enei tawaitanga = Young Maori women and smoking : knowledge, attitudes, initiation and maintenance : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University(Massey University, 1995) Orbell, Claire RachelCigarette smoking leads to many of the most harmful diseases of our time. The prevalence of smoking is excessively high amongst young Maori women. Most research has focused on knowledge of the health consequences associated with smoking, and attitudes toward cigarette smoking. Teaching individuals of the health consequences of smoking and attempting to change individuals' assumed positive attitudes toward smoking have been the basis for smoking prevention and cessation programmes Recent research suggests these programmes are ineffective in preventing or eliminating smoking. The process of initiation into cigarette smoking is not well understood. Also, the maintenance of cigarette smoking after initiation is not well understood. This is a mixed method study with young Maori women participants. The study includes both smokers and non-smokers. Non-smokers are almost always excluded from research into smoking but are a valuable source of information on smoking. A quantitative methodology was employed and a questionnaire developed to investigate young Maori women's knowledge and attitudes toward cigarette smoking. A qualitative methodology was used and a semi-structured interview developed to explore young Maori women's thoughts, feelings and experiences of initiation and maintenance of cigarette smoking. The aims of this study are to assess participants' knowledge of the health consequences of smoking and participants' attitudes toward smoking. The study also explores participants thoughts, feelings and experiences of smoking with an emphasis on the initiation and maintenance of smoking behaviour. Results indicate participants possess good knowledge of the health consequences of smoking. Participants were found to possess negative attitudes toward smoking. However, smokers were found to have more positive attitudes toward smoking than non-smokers. These findings are consistent with previous research. Results also indicate that social factors play the greatest role in both initiation and maintenance of smoking in young Maori women. Recommendations for future research and practical suggestions for prevention and cessation programmes are made.Item Multidimensional scaling of D15 caps: color-vision defects among tobacco smokers?(CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS, 2004) Bimler D; Kirkland JTobacco smoke contains a range of toxins including carbon monoxide and cyanide. With specialized cells and high metabolic demands, the optic nerve and retina are vulnerable to toxic exposure. We examined the possible effects of smoking on color vision: specifically, whether smokers perceive a different pattern of suprathreshold color dissimilarities from nonsmokers. It is already known that smokers differ in threshold color discrimination, with elevated scores on the Roth 28-Hue Desaturated panel test. Groups of smokers and nonsmokers, matched for sex and age, followed a triadic procedure to compare dissimilarities among 32 pigmented stimuli (the caps of the saturated and desaturated versions of the D15 panel test). Multidimensional scaling was applied to quantify individual variations in the salience of the axes of color space. Despite the briefness, simplicity, and "low-tech" nature of the procedure, subtle but statistically significant differences did emerge: on average the smoking group were significantly less sensitive to red-green differences. This is consistent with some form of injury to the optic nerve.