Could a transplant lower the risk of Parkinson’s?

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine, US, have found that having a heart, kidney, lung or bone marrow transplant could reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s.

As part of the study, published in medical journal ‘Parkinsonism & Related Disorders’, the team assessed data of just under 200,000 patients – 89,790 of whom had Parkinson’s.

The results revealed that individuals who had a transplant were 37% less likely to develop Parkinson’s. This could be due to the immunosuppressant medication patients receive before undergoing a transplant, which researchers believe may help slow neurodegeneration as it reduces inflammation in the brain.

The study said: “This study provides evidence that tissue transplant may be associated with a lower PD [Parkinson’s disease] risk, warranting further investigation to identify factors that mediate this relationship.” 

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