Parkinson's disease is a neurological condition affecting mobility. More than 1.5 million Americans have Parkinson's disease, according to the American Parkinson Disease Foundation. The main symptoms include rigidity, tremors and slowness of movement. No cure has been found to date. However, connections have been made between caffeine and Parkinson's disease, and research has been undertaken to establish whether a cure for Parkinson's disease may be linked to caffeine, reports the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.
Significance
Caffeine is associated with a diminished risk of Parkinson's disease, according to findings published in the "Archives of Neurology" in April, 2007. The study, entitled "Smoking, caffeine, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in families with Parkinson disease," compared the caffeine consumption of individuals affected by Parkinson's disease with that of their unaffected relatives. The results demonstrated that drinking two or more cups of coffee per day reduced the risk of developing Parkinson's disease by approximately 40 percent, according to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.
Features
Genetics are the link between caffeine and Parkinson's disease, according to new findings reported in September 2010 and documented by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Analysis of the genetic makeup in 4,000 individuals established that one gene in particular is responsible for the prevention of Parkinson's disease in those who drink coffee. The gene is called GRIN2A and approximately 25 percent of the population has the special variation of the gene that enhances the protective benefits of coffee.
Considerations
In view of the reduced risk of Parkinson's disease associated with caffeine, drugs mimicking caffeine have been tested in clinical trials. However, none has been effective, according to Dr Payami of the New York State Health Department, who is quoted in the article: "Gene explains coffee's effects on Parkinson's: study," published by Reuters on Sept. 29, 2010. The link between caffeine and the variant of the GRIN2A gene explains why these trials failed: according to Dr Payami, the drugs tested could only be effective in people with this gene variant and patient selection was not made on this basis.
Expert Insight
In future clinical trials assessing the value of caffeine in Parkinson's disease prevention, patient selection can be made depending on the likelihood of benefit from the drug being tested. This screening process will be based on whether patients carry the variant of the GRIN2A gene linked with the positive effects of caffeine in Parkinson's disease, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Warning
Caffeine is associated with a number of unwanted side effects. For example, caffeine can have diuretic effects and stimulant effects. The stimulant effects of caffeine are responsible for making you feel jittery and on edge. Consequently, while future Parkinson's disease treatment may incorporate medications that mimic the effects of caffeine, increasing your caffeine intake is not recommended, according to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
References
- American Parkinson Disease Association: Basic Information About Parkinson's Disease
- Parkinson's Disease Foundation: A Smoke and a Cup of Joe Linked to Warding Off Parkinson's
- Archives Of Neurology: Smoking, Caffeine, and Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs in Families with Parkinson Disease
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Researchers Explore Gene-Caffeine Interaction in Parkinson's Disease
- Reuters: Gene Explains Coffee's Effects on Parkinson's
