Caffeine and Urate Associated With Decreased Risk of Parkinson’s Disease

Previous research suggests that caffeine and urate may be associated with a reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease. A new long-term study evaluated this association and found that lower caffeine consumption and urate levels are linked with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. 

Participants in the study included 566 adults who took part in the Harvard Biomarkers Study. 65% of them had Parkinson’s disease and 35% did not. Consumption of caffeine over the previous 12 months was evaluated via a questionnaire. Plasma samples were taken to measure urate levels. Urates are the ions and salts that are formed by uric acid.

The researchers found that caffeine intake was lower in participants with Parkinson’s disease compared to participants without the disease. Participants with the highest caffeine intake were 70% less likely to have Parkinson’s disease, compared to those with the lowest caffeine intake. Participants with the highest urate levels were also significantly less likely to have Parkinson’s disease.

The study was conducted by researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. It was published on April 3, 2020 in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease.