Coffee and Parkinson's Disease

Approximately 500,000 people in the United States suffer from Parkinson's disease, with 50% more men effected than women. Symptoms usually appear after age 60 and the risk increase with age. Parkinson's develops when the dopamine-producing cells in the brain start to die and the levels of dopamine fall. Dopamine is a key chemical messenger involved in cotrolling balance, walking and other purposeful movements.

In general, research points to a strong link between coffee drinking and a reduced risk of developing Parkinson's disease, especially in men. It's not clear how caffeine achieves this but it might protect the dopamine cells from toxins. A study found that men who drink at least one cup of coffee a day reduce their risk by half compared with those who drink no coffee. But the evidence isn't as clear for women. Some research indicates that modest amounts of caffeine reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease, but only in postmenopausal women who have never taken post-menopausal estrogens. Conversely, the risk increase considerably in those taking estroges and who drink six or more cups of coffee a day