Author: Christine Chen
Editor: Junyu Zheng, Ken Saito
Artist: Emily Hu
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a brain disorder that often causes a wide range of symptoms that include tremors, impaired movements, as well as non-motor symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and dementia. Researchers have investigated caffeine’s effect on animals and people to determine if it may help protect the brain and improve movement and thinking abilities in patients with PD.
Caffeine is a stimulant drug that blocks a brain receptor called the adenosine A2A receptor. By blocking the binding of adenosine to its receptor, caffeine indirectly affects the release of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin, which can alter mood, memory, alertness, and more. Caffeine also helps to reduce inflammation and other harmful processes in the brain by binding to the receptor. Recent studies suggest that caffeine may help clear away toxic proteins in the brain and improve the communication between the gut and the brain.
Caffeine calms down the inflammation in the brain, especially in areas affected by Parkinson’s, which can help reduce symptoms in patients with this disease. In studies with mice, caffeine stopped harmful brain inflammation and protected brain cells from dying. Brain cells have a cleaning process called autophagy, which helps remove harmful proteins. Caffeine helps with this process, preventing the buildup of proteins linked to Parkinson’s. Another benefit is its positive influence on gut health; the micro-bacteria in our guts play a role in Parkinson’s through the brain-gut axis. Caffeine helps maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria, which can indirectly protect against Parkinson’s. Overall, caffeine seems to protect the brain in many ways, subsequently also protecting against Parkinson’s.
Investigating the potential benefits of caffeine is important because there are currently no known treatments that can stop or slow down PD. Understanding how genes affect people’s responses to caffeine could help personalize treatment for patients with PD. Current research into Parkinson's disease (PD) has revealed the role that genes and other factors, such as caffeine, play. Studies have explained the protective effects of caffeine intake in individuals carrying PD-risk variants, such as the LRRK2 R1628P mutation, suggesting the potential of personalized therapeutic approaches using caffeine. These findings reveal the importance of considering both genetic background and environmental exposures, like caffeine consumption, in understanding PD pathogenesis and potential therapeutic interventions. Studies have shown that people who drink coffee regularly are less likely to develop PD.
The extent to which caffeine relieves the symptoms and onset of PD still varies. Some studies have suggested caffeine helps to reduce the risk of developing movement complications, such as tremors, when a patient with PD only displays signs of cognitive decline. Furthermore, in PD patients with cognitive problems, some research suggests that regular coffee drinkers have a lower risk of developing memory problems and dementia, showing improved memory and thinking abilities.
There is still research to be done on this topic, but understanding the role of caffeine on Parkinson’s could potentially lead to personalized treatments. We often encounter false information on the internet, like the claim that drinking water causes sunburns, making credible information sound just as unbelievable. However, the scientific community can aid in spreading their research or disproving myths.
Citations:
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“Non-Movement Symptoms.” Parkinson’s Foundation, www.parkinson.org/understanding-
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Ren, Xiangpeng, and Jiang-Fan Chen. “Caffeine and Parkinson’s Disease: Multiple Benefits
and Emerging Mechanisms.” Frontiers in Neuroscience, U.S. National Library of
Medicine, 17 Dec. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7773776/.
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