CHICAGO (AP) -- Regular use of over-the-counter pain relievers might help delay or prevent Parkinson's disease, the neurological disorder that affects more than half a million Americans, research suggests.

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Aug. 19, 2003

By Alice Chang, M.D.
Harvard Medical School

How does this article relate to me?

It is too early to recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for everyone to prevent Parkinson's disease. This study looks at a large population of people over time and shows that people who took NSAIDs at least twice a week had a lower risk of developing Parkinson's. The study, however, did not prove that just anyone who starts using NSAIDs regularly would lower his or her risk of Parkinson's disease. Since the people in this study chose whether or not they took NSAIDs and probably took them for other conditions, there might be something different about people who took NSAIDs rather than the NSAIDs having such a significant effect. In addition, the people studied were health professionals, a generally healthier population.

Should you start taking an NSAID regularly to prevent Parkinson's? I would say, "no." There are potentially serious side effects from NSAIDs, including bleeding ulcers. NSAIDs can also affect your kidney function and lead to symptoms of heart failure in people at higher risk. To recommend this therapy, a future study would have to show that NSAIDs were better than a placebo at lowering the risk of Parkinson's disease and that there was only a small risk for side effects.

What changes do I need to make?

While no one would recommend NSAIDs for everyone, it might be something to consider if you have a family history of Parkinson's disease. Family history and age are the two greatest risk factors for Parkinson's disease. Talk to your doctor before you consider starting NSAIDs for the prevention of Parkinson's disease. You want to make sure you're not at higher risk for the complications of bleeding, and that you don't have liver or kidney disease or heart problems.

What can I expect in the future?

You can expect future studies to answer the question of whether NSAIDs should be recommended to prevent Parkinson's. The best kind of study would test NSAIDs against a dummy pill and see whether they lower the risk of Parkinson's disease in a large group of diverse people. Meanwhile, medical and surgical treatments are still being developed to better replace the function of the brain cells that are destroyed in Parkinson’s disease and restore movement.

Related Areas:

Parkinson's Disease