Parkinson's disease: a hot drink that significantly reduces the risk – scientists

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Parkinson's disease is a condition in which parts of the brain are gradually damaged over many years. This is caused by the loss of nerve cells in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra, which is responsible for producing a chemical called dopamine.

Dopamine acts as a mediator between parts of the brain and nervous system that help control and coordinate body movements. Disruption of this communication causes problems with involuntary movements.

Research is aimed at finding risk factors that contribute to the development of Parkinson's disease in order to try to prevent it from developing. Coffee and caffeine have been linked to a reduced risk of Parkinson's disease in several studies.

A meta-analysis of the literature was conducted to find out how strong the association is.

The study aimed to examine the ability of caffeine to affect Parkinson's disease in both healthy individuals and patients.

Researchers scanned electronic databases using terms related to Parkinson's disease, coffee, and caffeinated foods. . Articles were included only after they met clear diagnostic criteria for Parkinson's disease and information about their caffeine content.

A total of 13 studies were included in the review, nine of which were assigned to a healthy cohort and the rest – to the Parkinson's cohort.

“Individuals in the cohort of healthy individuals who consumed caffeine regularly had a significantly lower risk of developing PD [Parkinson's disease] at follow-up,” the researchers wrote.

< p>Furthermore, the rate of progression of Parkinson's disease was significantly lower in people consuming caffeine.

“In conclusion, caffeine altered the risk of disease and progression of Parkinson's disease in both healthy individuals and those with the disease Parkinson's disease,” the researchers concluded.