Can overuse of antibiotics cause Parkinson’s?

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Author: Simge Eva DoganPublished: 28 November 2019

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A patient pouring pills into their hands

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.”

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Can overuse of antibiotics cause Parkinson’s?

News

Author: Simge Eva DoganPublished: 28 November 2019

Prep: Cook: Serves:

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Can overuse of antibiotics cause Parkinson’s?

News

Author: Simge Eva DoganPublished: 28 November 2019

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

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Interviews

Providing free speech therapy for New York’s Parkinson’s community

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Could virtual studies support Parkinson’s disease research?

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