evidence: The potential for nicotine has been borne out in other recent trials. At the University of Vermont College of Medicine, a small, randomized 12-week trial is now underway testing whether nicotine can reduce impulsivity in people with Parkinson disease. [...] The NINDS program director for Parkinson disease research acknowledged that inklings of nicotine's potential role as neuroprotective agent have been seen for years. [...] As to whether clinical neurologists should consider suggesting the use of a low-dose nicotine patch to their patients with MCI or Parkinson disease, both Dr. Newhouse and Dr. Boyd were cautious.