Although men with moderate lifetime alcohol consumption were at higher risk of developing Parkinson disease (PD) compared with light drinkers, no significant link was found between alcohol consumption and risk of PD, according to study findings.
Although men with moderate lifetime alcohol consumption were at a higher risk of developing Parkinson disease (PD) compared with light drinkers, no significant link was found between alcohol consumption and risk of PD, according to study findings published in Movement Disorders.
Because the complex etiology of PD involves a myriad of genetic and environmental factors, the specific mechanisms of certain associations, such as cigarette smoking and caffeine intake with decreased risk of PD, remain poorly understood. In prior meta-analyses, alcohol consumption, which serves as another possible factor in the development of PD, was suggested to have an inverse association.
“The results, however, are as yet inconclusive: the inverse association was mainly observed in retrospective case-control studies, but was not as clear in studies based on prospective cohorts,” said the study authors.
The researchers conducted a prospective European population-based cohort study derived from NeuroEPIC4PD, involving 694 patients with PD from an initial group of 209,998. Participants were attributed risk estimates for average alcohol consumption 12 months prior to recruitment (short term) and during their lifetime since the age of 20 years (long term), with additional assessments of PD risk occuring based on type of alcoholic beverage. Cox regression hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated for alcohol consumption and incidence of PD.
In the study findings, the researchers found no association between alcohol consumption and risk of PD at recruitment and during lifetime. When stratified for sex, male lifetime moderate consumers (5-29.9 g/day; 5-14.9 g/day; HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.07-2.33; 15-29.9 g/day; HR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.00-2.33) exhibited close to a 50% higher risk of PD compared with light consumers (0.1-4.9 g/day; HR, 1 [ref]). However, there was no exposure—response trend observed (P = .55).
Additional analyses for lifetime consumption by type of alcoholic beverage also did not show any significant association with PD risk.
“Overall, our data support previous findings from large US prospective studies that there is no association between alcohol consumption and the risk of PD,” said the study authors.
Reference
Peters S, Gallo V, Vineis P, et al. Alcohol consumption and risk of Parkinson’s disease: data from a large prospective European cohort [published online May 1, 2020]. Mov Disord. doi: 10.1002/mds.28039.
Major Study Expands in Hopes to Cure Parkinson Disease
April 19th 2022April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness month, and on this episode of Managed Care Cast, we take a look at the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), a study from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF). The multicenter, international study aims to end Parkinson disease, which is expected to double worldwide by 2040, to more than 14 million people.
Listen
PD Worsens QOL, Increases Depression in Men More Than Women in the Southeast
February 17th 2023The southeastern areas of the country have worse health outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) compared with other parts of the United States, with high rates of diabetes, obesity, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
Read More
An Inside Look at Innovations by MJFF to Assist the Parkinson Community Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
May 26th 2020On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Rachel Dolhun, MD, vice president of Medical Communications at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson Research, about recent innovations by The Michael J. Fox Foundation to assist patients and families of patients with Parkinson disease in adjusting to this new normal.
Listen