Some people develop Parkinson’s much later in life than others.
And it may be because they drink one drink daily.
A drink that most of us love but have been told to cut back for “health reasons”.
According to a new study in medRxiv you should absolutely not stop.
For years, researchers have explored whether coffee protects against Parkinson’s disease.
Some studies suggested a link, but they couldn’t prove whether it actually caused the effect or if people who drank coffee just happened to have lower Parkinson’s risk for other reasons.
To answer this, scientists used a method called Mendelian randomization, a genetic approach that helps determine cause and effect.
They analyzed genetic data from 27,693 people of European ancestry, focusing on genes linked to this habit, Parkinson’s risk, and disease progression.
The findings were fascinating:
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• Later Parkinson’s Onset: Those who drank coffee regularly were less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease early in life.
• No Effect on Disease Progression: Once Parkinson’s started, drinking coffee did not slow its progress or improve symptoms.
• No Protection Against Parkinson’s: Drinking coffee did not reduce overall Parkinson’s risk, it only influenced when symptoms appeared.
• Works Even with Genetic Risk: The delay effect applied even to those genetically predisposed to Parkinson’s, offering potential hope for high-risk individuals.
However, researchers caution against overloading on caffeine. The study didn’t pinpoint an ideal amount, but excessive coffee consumption can cause issues like anxiety, sleep disruption, and acid reflux.