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Can overuse of antibiotics cause Parkinson’s?

Researchers at Helsinki University Hospital, Finland, have found that the overuse of antibiotic drugs could increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s. The study – published in medical journal ‘Movement Disorders’ – compared data on antibiotic exposure in 13,976 people with Parkinson’s and 40,697 people without. The researchers found that overuse of some antibiotic drugs can cause Parkinson’s, that it can take up to 15 years before any symptoms emerge – and that the connection to Parkinson’s could be due to the drug’s effects on the gut. Filip Scheperjans, neurologist and lead researcher of the study, said: “The link between antibiotic exposure and Parkinson’s disease fits the current view that in a significant proportion of patients the pathology of Parkinson’s may originate in the gut, possibly related to microbial changes, years before the onset of typical Parkinson’s symptoms such as slowness, muscle stiffness and shaking of the extremities.”

New Parkinson’s health app to track symptoms more accurately

Health app SleepFit could be used to track Parkinson’s symptoms in real time, providing clinicians with a more accurate view of patients’ condition, according to a new study. As part of the research – published in ‘Journal of Parkinson’s Disease’ – 42 people with Parkinson’s recorded their symptoms on the app four times a day for a period of two weeks. After the study, to test the data against patients’ own recollection of their symptoms, those participating completed a questionnaire – recording symptoms such as walking difficulty and hand dexterity. The results showed that 16.7% of those who took part tended to over or underestimate their symptoms when completing the questionnaire, therefore providing inaccurate information. Dr Pietro Luca Ratti, lead researcher of the study, said: “The importance of accurately assessing motor symptoms is pivotal in the clinical follow-up of patients with Parkinson’s Disease.”

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Queen Elizabeth II honours UK university for Parkinson’s research

Can overuse of antibiotics cause Parkinson’s?

New Parkinson’s health app to track symptoms more accurately

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Queen Elizabeth II honours UK university for Parkinson’s research

Can overuse of antibiotics cause Parkinson’s?

New Parkinson’s health app to track symptoms more accurately

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