An international team of researchers has uncovered a link between coffee consumption and a reduced likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease.
The authors of this extensive study analyzed data from 184,024 volunteers across various countries over the course of two decades. They found that coffee drinkers are less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease compared to those who do not consume the beverage at all.
What the Researchers Discovered
During their research, the scientists measured levels of primary caffeine metabolites, including paraxanthine and theophylline, in the blood. They discovered an inverse relationship between coffee consumption and the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
The researchers noted that among the top 25 percent of coffee enthusiasts, the likelihood of developing the disease was 40 percent lower than in those who abstained from coffee entirely. Overall, within the group of participants who consumed coffee, the measured reduction in risk varied from 5 to 63 percent, depending on various factors.
“This study demonstrated an inverse relationship between caffeine consumption and the risk of Parkinson’s disease in one of the largest longitudinal cohorts in the world over more than 20 years of observation,” the scientists wrote in their report.
Interestingly, this is not the first study to indicate a connection between coffee and Parkinson’s disease, as reported by Science Alert. However, the authors of this new research went further than their predecessors by examining biomarkers of caffeine consumption several years prior to the diagnosis of the disease.
Scientists are still unable to explain the reason behind this connection. However, it seems that there is something in caffeine and its components that protects the human brain.
Based on previous studies, it can be suggested that the reason for this effect may be that caffeine promotes the delivery of dopamine to the brain. This is significant because Parkinson’s disease is characterized by a decrease in dopamine levels due to the loss of nerve cells in the so-called substantia nigra.
Considering how caffeine affects our nerve cells, it’s not surprising that there is a connection between it and neurodegenerative diseases.
The team continues to investigate what triggers Parkinson’s disease, what influences the risk of developing this condition, and how it can be halted. In the United States alone, about one million people suffer from Parkinson’s disease, which leads to tremors, stiffness in the limbs, and issues with movement and balance.
The results of the study were published in the journal Neurology.