Our April 14 blog referred to the association between a lower Parkinson's disease risk and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen. Researchers from a number of Boston area institutions and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences have been pursuing this line of inquiry for nearly two decades. It stems from a long term-study and patient cohort initiated by the American Cancer Society in the 1980s.
Results from this ongoing research reveal that ibuprofen reduces the risk of Parkinson's disease. The Annals of Neurology published these results in its December issue. Some of the highlights from the recent publication include:
- People who took a daily ibuprofen tablet exhibited a 38 percent lower relative risk of developing Parkinson's disease, compared to people who did not regularly take ibuprofen.
- Two ibuprofen tablets a week reduced risk by 35 percent.
- Taking two to seven ibuprofen tablets a week reduced Parkinson's risk by approximately 28 percent.
- Other painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs did not exhibit a reduction in Parkinson's risk.
However, researchers caution people against adopting an ibuprofen regimen. As always consult with your physician before making any medication decisions.
Click here for the Reuters article discussing the latest findings from this study.