Researchers from Duke University assessed the associations between smoking, caffeine and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) use and Parkinson's disease in 356 Parkinson's disease patients (average age 66.1) and 317 family members without the disease (average age 63.7). Participants were evaluated clinically to confirm their Parkinson's disease status and then interviewed by phone to determine their exposure to environmental factors.
The biological mechanisms through which smoking and caffeine might work in individuals at risk of Parkinson's disease is unknown, the authors note. "Smoking and caffeine possibly modify genetic effects in families with Parkinson's disease and should be considered as effect modifiers in candidate gene studies for Parkinson's disease."
Nobody is surprised that NSAID users did not demonstrate a reduced Parkinson's disease risk. However, there is focused clinical evidence from an earlier study that one daily ibuprofen tablet reduces the risk of developing Parkinson's significantly.
If you are already living with Parkinson's disease, there is no evidence that ibuprofen, caffeine, smoking, or nicotine can do anything to help Parkinson's disease. There is optimism and some evidence that levodopa, exercise, proper diet, rasagiline, Coenzyme Q10 and good sleep will help you live a better life, and perhaps slow the progress of Parkinson's disease a little bit.
