Common painkiller may limit Parkinson’s

Findings from a large study in the US showed that ibuprofen, widely marketed in the UK as Nurofen, lowered the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease by as much as 38 per cent.

Other pain-relieving medicines, such as aspirin, naproxen and diclofenac, did not have the same effect.

Researchers believe ibuprofen may have a unique ability to protect the brain cells that are lost by Parkinson’s patients.

If so, it is possible the drug may help to hold back the progressive disease. But experts warn that excessive use of ibuprofen can lead to harmful side effects, such as gastrointestinal bleeding.

The scientists at Harvard School of Public Health, in Boston, Massachusetts, analysed data from more than 37,000 male health professionals and almost 99,000 female nurses. Over six years, 156 men and 135 women were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Participants’ use of pain-relieving medicines known as Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) was recorded along with other information such as age, smoking habits, and diet.

The results, published in the journal Neurology, showed that those who took ibuprofen two or more times a week were 38 per cent less likely to develop Parkinson’s than those who did not.

A follow-up analysis indicated a 27 per cent reduced risk.

Around 120,000 people in the UK have Parkinson’s. The disease disrupts motor messages from the brain, leading to tremors, slow movement and muscle rigidity.

Dr Kieran Breen, director of research and development at the British charity Parkinson’s UK, warned people against rushing to take ibuprofen as it has many other effects that may be harmful with prolonged use.