How many of us make it a daily ritual of grinding and brewing a cup at home, or swinging by our local coffee spot?
Well, now research is showing that not only are coffee-drinkers less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease, but that caffeine may improve motor symptoms in persons living with Parkinson’s …
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The main idea: after giving people with Parkinson’s a caffeine dose (equal to 3 cups of coffee a day), significant improvements in motor symptoms (UPDRS motor score) were seen compared to those given placebos. It is thought that caffeine may block a brain receptor (adenosine A2 “antagonist”) and improve dopamine transmission.
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Research : Caffeine for Treatment of Parkinson’s disease: an RCT (Neurology)
Real life : Caffeine May Help Ease Parkinson’s Symptoms (The Globe and Mail)
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However, results should be interpreted with caution as the sample was small, trial was of short duration, and it’s hard to blind participants who received caffeine and who received placebo (hello, caffeine withdrawal headache!).
Well, cheers to that research! much love.
P.S. like coffee? check these out; the caffeinator, coffee and risk for PD, michael j fox foundation
Fascinating. You had my interest at Adenosine A2 “antagonist. Love reading about chemical compounds.
glad that you love geeking-out! me too! … anything I can relate back to Parkinson’s (adenosine A2 encodes proteins in the basal ganglia) or coffee (adenosine A2 is a caffeine receptor) always interests me 🙂
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