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Over-the-Counter pain medications may reduce
risk of Parkinson’s Disease
Newswise — Over-the-counter pain medications known as
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
may reduce a person’s risk of Parkinson’s
disease, according to a study published in
the November 6, 2007, issue of Neurology®,
the medical journal of the American Academy
of Neurology.
“Given our results and the growing burden of Parkinson’s
disease as people age, there’s a pressing
need for further studies explaining why
these drugs may play a protective role,”
said study author Angelika D. Wahner, PhD,
with the UCLA School of Public Health in Los
Angeles.
The study involved 579 men and women, half of whom had
Parkinson’s disease. The participants were
asked if they had taken aspirin and if they
had taken non-aspirin NSAIDs, such as
ibuprofen, once a week or more at any point
in their life for at least a month.
Participants were considered regular users of aspirin or
non-aspirin NSAIDs if they took two or more
pills a week for at least one month.
Non-regular users were those who took fewer
pills.
The study found regular users of non-aspirin NSAIDs reduced
their risk of Parkinson’s disease by as much
as 60 percent compared to non-regular users
and non-users. Women who were regular users
of aspirin reduced their risk of Parkinson’s
disease by 40 percent, especially among
those who regularly used aspirin for more
than two years.
“Our findings suggest NSAIDs are protective against
Parkinson’s disease, with a particularly
strong protective effect among regular users
of non-aspirin NSAIDs, especially those who
reported two or more years of use,” said
Wahner. “Interestingly, aspirin only
benefited women. It may be that men are
taking lower doses of aspirin for heart
problems, while women may be using higher
doses for arthritis or headaches.”
“It’s possible the anti-inflammatory agent in NSAIDs may
contribute to the observed protective effect
of the drugs, but the exact mechanism isn’t
clear and further research is needed,” said
the study’s principal investigator Beate
Ritz, MD, PhD, with UCLA School of Public
Health.
The study was supported by grants from the National
Institutes of Health, the National Institute
of Environmental Health Sciences and the
American Parkinson Disease Association.
The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more
than 20,000 neurologists and neuroscience
professionals, is dedicated to improving
patient care through education and research.
A neurologist is a doctor with specialized
training in diagnosing, treating and
managing disorders of the brain and nervous
system such as Parkinson’s disease, ALS (Lou
Gehrig’s disease), dementia, West Nile
virus, and ataxia.
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