NSAIDS Useful In Reducing Risk Of Getting Parkinson’s
NSAIDs are the nickname for Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs. This is the family of over the counter painkillers that those of us dealing with headaches know intimately –aspirin, ibuprophen and naxoproxen. We take them for relief of headaches (knock on wood), but did you know that they can also help reduce your risk of ever getting Parkinson’s disease?
Well, Now You Do
Yipperdoodle, says the research team at the Unversity of California in Los Angeles who were doing a study on Parkinson’s and painkillers, conviniently enough.
579 Californians — half with Parkinson’s and half without — were asked if they took NSAIDs once or more a week for an entire month at any point during their lives. (Ask yourself that now and congradulations if you can clearly remember.) Those who said “Yes” were considered “regular users of NSAIDs.”
The findings among this lot showed that regular users of NSAIDs were less likely to develop Parkinson’s (which usually comes on with age.) In particular, women who were regular users of aspirin seemed to be 40% more protected.
Parkinson’s affects more than one million people in America alone, so anything that can cut down on this disease is much appreciated. Perhaps the most famous person with Parkinson’s that is still alive is actor Michael J Fox, who has started The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
However, this is only one test. The researchers are hoping that these promising results will fuel yet more tests.
So, get your NSAIDs out and take ‘em … provided you have a headache, of course.
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