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 11 October 2008 21:39 BST

Painkillers cut Parkinson's risk

Tuesday, 06 Nov 2007 11:52
Taking aspirin could cut the risk of Parkinson's disease
Over-the-counter painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen could reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease, a new study suggests.

Researchers from the UCLA School of Public Health in Los Angeles found that regular users of non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen, cut their risk of the disease by 60 per cent compared to non-users and non-regular users.

Women who regularly used aspirin reduced their risk of Parkinson's by 40 per cent, especially among those who had taken the drug for two years.

Writing in the journal Neurology, the researchers propose that this may be a result of men taking lower doses of aspirin for heart problems, while women may be using higher doses for arthritis or headaches.

The findings are based on studies of 579 men and women, half of whom had Parkinson's, and their use of NSAIDs.

Participants were considered regular users of aspirin or non-aspirin NSAIDs if they took two or more pills a week for at least one month.

Commenting on the findings, the study's lead researcher Dr Beate Ritz said: "It's possible the anti-inflammatory agent in NSAIDs may contribute to the observed protective effect of the drugs, but the exact mechanism isn't clear and further research is needed."
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