2 Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs Tied to Lower Risk of Parkinson’s

By Robert Preidt
HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Jan. 28, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Two rheumatoid arthritis medicine present potential for decreasing the danger of Parkinson’s illness, new analysis exhibits.

Some earlier research have discovered that folks with rheumatoid arthritis have a decrease threat of Parkinson’s, and it was advised {that a} class of rheumatoid arthritis medicine referred to as disease-modifying antirheumatic medicine (DMARDs) could play a job in that decreased threat.

To be taught extra, researchers analyzed information from hundreds of sufferers in Finland.

The use of most DMARDs — together with methotrexate, sulfasalazine, gold preparations or immunosuppressants — no less than three years earlier than Parkinson’s illness prognosis was not related to the danger of the illness in these with rheumatoid arthritis, in keeping with the research revealed on-line Jan. 21 within the journal Neurology.

However, the researchers did discover that rheumatoid arthritis sufferers who took the DMARDs chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine had a 26% decrease threat of Parkinson’s illness.

Both of those medicine have an effect on the immune system and have been proven to have anti-Parkinson’s potential in animal research, in keeping with the researchers. But outcomes of animal research are sometimes completely different from these in people.

The new research was led by Anne Paakinaho of the School of Pharmacy on the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio.

Her group referred to as for additional investigation of the medicine’ attainable protecting results towards Parkinson’s.

The research — funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research — managed for size of time with rheumatoid arthritis, age, intercourse and different well being situations, reminiscent of coronary heart illness and diabetes.

The threat elements for Parkinson’s illness are unclear, the research authors famous in a journal information launch.

Previous research have linked rheumatoid arthritis with Parkinson’s. But they’ve yielded conflicting findings, with rheumatoid arthritis being related to both a decrease or larger threat of Parkinson’s.

More data

The Parkinson’s Foundation has extra on Parkinson’s illness.

SOURCE: University of Eastern Finland, information launch, Jan. 24, 2022