Parkinson’s Disease is a debilitating one, affecting 1 in every 500 people over the age of 50. It is linked with a shortage of the brain chemical dopamine and follows the death of important nerves cells. Parkinson’s Disease is both chronic (persists over a long period of time) and progressive (symptoms grow worse over time). Some people become severely disabled, while others experience only minor motor disruptions. Tremor is the major symptom for some patients and speech is often affected.
The current research was funded by the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (A former household face in television and movies) to find a cure for Parkinson’s which has affected him prematurely. The researchers have found that people who take ibuprofen on a regular basis have a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The study of more than 135,000 men and women regular users of ibuprofen are said to be 40% less likely to develop Parkinson’s Disease
Lead researcher Professor Alberto Ascherio, of the Harvard School of Public Health, said: “There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, so the possibility that ibuprofen, an existing and relatively non-toxic drug, could help protect against the disease is captivating.”
It is thought that an inflammatory response in the brain might cause the death of nerve cells leading to Parkinson’s Disease. If correct, an anti-inflammatory medication could halt or slow the process. Further study is required and it is too early to say whether the benefits of taking the non steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drug outweigh the risk of side effects such as gastrointestinal bleeding, heart attack and stroke.
Post: David M. Schwadron, Esquire