Can Ibuprofen Reduce Parkinson Disease Risk?

Data from two large questionnaire studies suggest a link, but whether it is causal remains unknown.

Increasing evidence suggests that inflammation may play a role in neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson disease (PD) and that reducing inflammation with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might reduce this risk. In this prospective study, researchers assessed the PD risk associated specifically with ibuprofen use, compared with use of other NSAIDs, acetaminophen, or aspirin. A total of 136,197 participants from two longitudinal cohorts (the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study and the Nurses' Health Study) who were free of PD at baseline completed questionnaires on use of these drugs every 2 years.

During 6 years of follow-up, 291 participants developed PD. Individuals who consumed ibuprofen, but not other NSAIDs, aspirin, o…

Reviewing Author

David A. Grimes, MD, FRCPC