Parkinson’s disease is a long-term brain condition that mainly affects movement. It develops when brain cells that make dopamine, a chemical needed for smooth and controlled movement, become damaged or die.
Common signs include shaking, stiff muscles, slower movement, and problems with balance. Some people also develop sleep problems, depression, memory changes, constipation, and other symptoms that are not directly related to movement.
Scientists are still trying to understand why Parkinson’s develops. Age is the strongest known risk factor, but genes, environmental exposures, other health conditions, and possibly some medicines may also play a role.
A study led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London examined whether medicines commonly used to control epilepsy might be associated with Parkinson’s disease. These medicines, known as antiepileptic or antiseizure drugs, reduce abnormal electrical activity in the brain and can also be prescribed for some other conditions.
The researchers studied health records from 1,433 people who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. They compared them with records from 8,598 people without Parkinson’s disease.
The team examined prescriptions recorded in primary care for four commonly used medicines: carbamazepine, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, and sodium valproate. They then looked for differences in previous use of these medicines between people with and without Parkinson’s.
The results showed an association between the use of antiepileptic medicines and a higher likelihood of Parkinson’s disease. The researchers also found signs of a dose-related pattern, meaning the association appeared stronger among people who had received more prescriptions.
People who had used more than one antiepileptic medicine also appeared to have a higher risk. This finding attracted attention because it suggested that greater exposure to these drugs might be connected with a greater likelihood of developing Parkinson’s.
However, the study cannot prove that the medicines themselves cause Parkinson’s disease. Observational studies based on medical records can reveal important patterns, but other factors may help explain those patterns.
For example, epilepsy itself or health problems linked to epilepsy could potentially influence Parkinson’s risk. Researchers therefore need further studies to separate the effects of the medicines from the effects of the conditions for which they are prescribed.
The findings also do not mean that people taking these medicines should stop them. Epilepsy can cause dangerous seizures, and suddenly stopping antiseizure medication can be risky, so treatment changes should always be discussed with a doctor.
The research is important because relatively little was known about how several widely used antiepileptic medicines might relate to Parkinson’s disease. If future studies confirm a connection, researchers will need to understand the biological reasons behind it and determine whether certain medicines, doses, or treatment durations carry different risks.
That information could eventually help doctors make more informed treatment decisions, particularly for people who already have other risk factors for Parkinson’s. It could also offer new clues about the biological changes that occur before Parkinson’s symptoms become obvious.
The study was led by Daniel Belete and colleagues at Queen Mary University of London and was published in the medical journal JAMA Neurology. The researchers say more work is needed before the findings can be used to change medical practice.
For now, the study adds another piece to the complicated puzzle of Parkinson’s disease. Understanding which factors may raise or lower risk could eventually help scientists find better ways to prevent the disease, identify it earlier, or protect vulnerable brain cells.
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 that blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline, and results showing Plant-based diets could protect cognitive health from air pollution.
Copyright © 2026 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
