Source: PR Newswire
A recent study co-authored by Evergreen Healthcare neurologist Dr. Pinky Agarwal finds good news for coffee drinkers: consuming caffeinated coffee may significantly reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease in some men and women depending on their genetics, according to research recently published by the Public Library of Science.
According to the study, researchers identified a connection between coffee’s protective qualities and a gene known as GRIN2A, which regulates brain signals that control movement and behavior.
On average, heavy coffee drinkers were found to have 27 percent lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, regardless of the genes they carry. The risk was even less for heavy coffee drinkers who carry a specific variation of GRIN2A. They have 59 percent less chance of developing the disease, according to the research.
Cartoon by Bob Moran
