Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that causes movements people can’t control, such as shaking, stiffness, and problems with balance and coordination. These symptoms usually start slowly but get worse over time, making everyday tasks like walking and speaking more difficult.
Epilepsy, on the other hand, is a condition where a person has repeated seizures due to unusual electrical activity in the brain. To manage this, people take special medications called antiepileptic drugs.
These include common treatments like carbamazepine, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, and sodium valproate. These medicines are very important for those with epilepsy and other seizure disorders.
Now, a new study from Queen Mary University of London has found a possible link between some of these epilepsy drugs and an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. This is the first large study to look at a variety of epilepsy drugs and how they might be connected to Parkinson’s.
The researchers studied data from 1,433 people who had Parkinson’s disease and compared them with 8,598 people who didn’t. They used prescription records from regular doctor visits to see who had been given epilepsy drugs and how many prescriptions they had over time.
They discovered that the more often a person had been prescribed epilepsy medications, the higher their risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. People who were taking several epilepsy drugs at the same time also seemed to have a greater risk.
This pattern suggests that there may be a connection between long-term use or higher doses of these medications and the development of Parkinson’s.
It’s important to understand that this study does not prove that epilepsy drugs cause Parkinson’s disease. It only shows a possible link. More research is needed to find out whether these drugs are truly responsible and, if so, why.
It’s also possible that people with certain brain conditions are more likely to develop both epilepsy and Parkinson’s, which might explain the connection.
Still, the results are important for doctors to consider when prescribing epilepsy medications, especially for people who may already be at risk for Parkinson’s. These findings could help guide decisions about treatment plans in the future.
There’s also growing interest in how diet and vitamins might play a role in preventing or managing Parkinson’s disease.
Some studies suggest that Vitamin E may help lower the chance of getting Parkinson’s, while Vitamin D could be useful for people already diagnosed with the condition. Foods high in flavonoids—like berries, apples, and tea—may also help people with Parkinson’s live longer and healthier lives.
This important study, led by Daniel Belete, was published in JAMA Neurology. It reminds us that even well-established medications can have unexpected effects, and ongoing research is needed to better understand how to protect brain health as we age.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies that Vitamin B may slow down cognitive decline, and Mediterranean diet could help lower risk of Parkinson’s.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how wheat gluten might be influencing our brain health, and Olive oil: a daily dose for better brain health..
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