In a medical paradox, people who smoke cigarettes seem to be less prone to getting Parkinson’s disease, even though smoking is one of the top factors contributing to preventable diseases and deaths. A new study has shown that this phenomenon may not have anything to do with nicotine, but with yet another chemical compound contained in smoke, carbon monoxide.
Scientists from the University of Oxford conducted a research involving more than half a million Chinese adults and discovered that increased concentrations of carbon monoxide in breath were linked to a reduced chance of developing Parkinson’s disease, including people who have never smoked before. Their research, led by Clara Bueno Lopez and colleagues, was published on September 8, 2026 in JAMA Neurology.
