In a study from Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, researchers found caffeine may help treat Parkinson’s disease effectively.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder affecting approximately 1% of the population older than 60 years.
Classically, PD is considered to be a motor system disease and its diagnosis is based on the presence of a set of cardinal motor signs (rigidity, bradykinesia, rest tremor) that are a consequence of a pronounced death of dopaminergic neurons.
Nowadays there is considerable evidence showing that non-dopaminergic degeneration also occurs in other brain areas which seems to be responsible for the deficits in olfactory, emotional and memory functions that precede the classical motor symptoms in PD.
In the study, the team aimed to examine previous results to provide a comprehensive picture of the antiparkinsonian potential of caffeine.
They found that caffeine may confer neuroprotection against the underlying dopaminergic neuron degeneration, and influence the onset and progression of PD.
The available data also suggest that caffeine can improve the motor deficits of PD.
Finally, recent experimental findings have shown the potential of caffeine in the management of non-motor symptoms of PD, which do not improve with the current dopaminergic drugs.
Altogether, the studies reviewed provide strong evidence that caffeine may represent a promising therapeutic tool in PD.
The team says it can be the first compound to restore both motor and non-motor early symptoms of PD.
For more information about caffeine and Parkinson’s disease, please check the video:
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The study is published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and was conducted by Rui D S Prediger.
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