Parkinson’s disease is a long-term brain disorder that slowly gets worse over time. It mainly affects movement because it damages brain cells that produce dopamine, a chemical that helps control smooth and coordinated muscle movements.
People with Parkinson’s disease may develop shaking, stiff muscles, slow movement, poor balance, and difficulty walking. As the disease progresses, everyday activities such as dressing, eating, writing, and speaking can become much harder. Many people also experience sleep problems, depression, memory changes, and other symptoms that are not related to movement.
Although scientists know that both genes and environmental factors can play a role in Parkinson’s disease, the exact causes are still not fully understood. Researchers continue to study possible risk factors that might increase the chance of developing the condition.
A study from Queen Mary University of London has identified a possible link between Parkinson’s disease and some medicines commonly used to treat epilepsy and other seizure disorders.
Antiepileptic drugs, also called antiseizure medicines, help prevent seizures by reducing abnormal electrical activity in the brain. They are essential medicines for many people living with epilepsy.
Some of these medicines are also prescribed for other health problems, including nerve pain, bipolar disorder, and migraine prevention. Because many patients need to take these medicines for years, understanding their long-term safety is very important.
The research team examined medical records from 1,433 people who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and compared them with 8,598 people who did not have the condition.
The scientists carefully reviewed prescription records to see whether the participants had previously taken antiepileptic medicines. The drugs studied included carbamazepine, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, and sodium valproate.
The researchers found that people who had received prescriptions for antiepileptic medicines were more likely to later develop Parkinson’s disease than those who had not taken these medicines. The association became stronger as the number of prescriptions increased.
In other words, people who used these medicines more frequently appeared to have a higher risk. The study also found that people who had taken more than one type of antiepileptic medicine showed an even greater increase in risk.
This was the first large study to investigate a broad range of seizure medicines and their possible connection with Parkinson’s disease. While the findings are important, they do not prove that these medicines directly cause Parkinson’s disease.
The study only found an association. Other factors, including the underlying medical conditions requiring treatment or other health differences between patients, may also contribute to the results.
The researchers say more studies are now needed to understand why this link exists. Future research will examine whether the medicines themselves affect brain cells, whether epilepsy or related conditions play a role, or whether other biological factors explain the increased risk.
Answering these questions could improve understanding of Parkinson’s disease and help scientists develop better prevention strategies.
Despite the findings, experts stress that patients should not stop taking antiepileptic medicines without speaking to their doctor. These medicines are highly effective and often life-saving because they prevent seizures that can cause serious injury or even death.
For most patients, the benefits of controlling seizures continue to outweigh the possible risks suggested by this study. Any decision to change treatment should always be made together with a healthcare professional.
The study also highlights the importance of regular medical follow-up for people who take long-term medicines. Doctors can monitor patients, review whether each medicine is still needed, and discuss the benefits and possible risks of treatment over time.
The research was led by Daniel Belete and published in the journal JAMA Neurology. Although more work is needed before firm conclusions can be reached, the study adds an important piece to the growing understanding of Parkinson’s disease.
As scientists continue to investigate its causes, discoveries like this may eventually help improve treatment decisions and reduce the risk of this challenging brain disorder.
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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