NSAIDs May Protect Against Parkinson’s

This headline is intriguing – but is it based on sound evidence? Well, a report in the journal Neurology seems to say “yes”. UCLA scientists studied non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use among 293 Parkinson patients and in 286 carefully matched controls. Parkinson’s disease was confirmed by a neurologist, and a questionnaire was used to evaluate the use of aspirin or non-aspirin NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen [Advil®] or naproxen [Aleve®]); at least 2 pills a week for at least one month was equated to ‘regular use’.

For aspirin, 35% of the Parkinson’s patients and 41% of the healthy controls reported regular use. For non-aspirin NSAIDs, 18% of Parkinson’s patients and 32% of controls were regular users. And for long-term (2-year+) NSAID users, the risk of developing Parkinson’s was about 44% that of the controls’ risk.

This result is not quite so surprising when it’s remembered that Parkinson’s patients have increased levels of circulating inflammatory markers in their brains and spinal fluid.

Before everyone rushes to the store for a years’ supply of Advil, they should remember the side effects of repeated use of such drugs. Gastro-intestinal bleeding is probably the most common of the severe effects, but, more recently, cardiovascular effects have been associated with long-term use.