A new Mayo Clinic study found that there may be a difference between men and women in the patterns of risk factors for Parkinson’s disease. In men, the most important factors were lifestyle and occupational risk factors acting independently. By contrast, in women, none of the lifestyle and occupational factors was important and the primary factor was anemia.
“Although several environmental and genetic factors have been associated with Parkinson’s disease one-at-a-time, they have rarely been studied together in the same population,” says Walter Rocca, M.D., a neurologist at Mayo Clinic and senior author of this study. “By studying the joint effects of several risk factors, we can identify specific subgroups of people who may develop Parkinson’s disease later in life.”
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder that affects nerve cells in the part of the brain that controls muscle movement. Symptoms include tremor, slowed movement and rigid muscles. At least 1 million people in the U.S. are believed to have Parkinson’s disease, and 2 percent of the population can expect to develop the disease during their lifetime.
As part of the Rochester Epidemiology Project, the researchers studied 196 individuals who developed Parkinson’s disease in Olmsted County, Minn. from 1976 through 1995, and an equal number of matched population controls. They considered the following variables that had been previously investigated one-at-a-time: personal history of head trauma, pesticide use, immunologic diseases, anemia, hysterectomy (only in women), cigarette smoking, coffee consumption, and education; and family history of parkinsonism, essential tremor, dementia or psychiatric disorders.
When considering men and women together, the researchers observed the independent effects of anemia, no coffee consumption, and head trauma; however, the most important finding was a different pattern in men and women. In men, they observed the independent effects of no coffee consumption, head trauma, and pesticide use. By contrast, in women, none of these lifestyle and occupational factors was important and anemia was the most important risk factor.
This study will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Toronto this week.
I’d love to hear more about women and Parkinson’s Disease–I currently suffer from what the doctors have indicated as hemiplegic migraines–but everything also seems to relate to symptoms of parkinson’s–how do I make sure and does Kappra (med I am currently on) work for both Hemiplegic migraines and parkinson’s disease?
Thank you for your question. I’ve consulted with our Parkinson’s disease experts and they informed me that hemiplegic migraine and Parkinson’s disease are quite different disorders and should not pose a diagnostic dilemma for a neurologist. According to Dr. Eric Ahlskog, the symptoms and signs of Parkinson’s disease are persistent, whereas hemiplegic migraine occurs episodically, with resolution of symptoms/signs between episodes.
I am excited to hear more research being done on the risk factors and preventative factors related to PD. My grandfather had Parkinson’s, and my aunt has recently been diagnosed at the age of 53. I am constantly wondering if it was largely genetics in my aunt’s case, or if it was an environmental factor that they were both exposed to. Either way, I remain terrified that my father will develop PD. I recently saw on the news that researchers thought regularly taking ibuprofen could help prevent Parkinson’s, but the idea seems so outlandish that I wonder if it holds any truth?
Thanks for your comment, Kristina. Dr. Eric Ahlskog offers the following response:
The vast majority of people with Parkinson’s disease do not have known genetic abnormalities that are responsible. A positive family history increases someone’s risk, but the risk is still relatively limited.
Truth be known, we still do not know what causes Parkinson’s disease, although research is providing clues. Yet even with those clues, it is unclear how much is environmental and how much genetic. If genetic, it does not appear to occur with the classic inheritance patterns among most people with PD; multiple genes might be involved.
The recent study reporting a reduced risk among people who had been taking ibuprofen was consistent with a few earlier studies. However, the risk reduction in all of these studies has been modest. Moreover, this is an association, and not necessarily a causal relationship. In other words, ibuprofen-use might simply be a surrogate marker for something else.
Parkinson’s disease clinicians are not advising their patients or their patients’ relatives to start taking ibuprofen for risk reduction.
I am a 55 year old Parkinson’s patient x8 yrs diagnosed. I have a long history of anemia, starting when I was about 4 or 5 years old. My former doctor in the town where I used to live would give me B-12 shots because my B-12 was low and she said it was good for neurological function. I have seen several doctors in my new town and I cannot get them to even run a blood B-12 test, until recently, and I demanded it. The test showed low B-12. I am going to take this to my neurologist and internist for my next appointments. I am very interested in the correlation with Parkinson’s Disease. I would like to get continuing information as the research continues.
Hi Jan,
I am 46 year old and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 9 months ago. I used to have anemia as a young boy too. Unfortunatelly, I have no idea about my levels of B-12 at that time or now (though your post made me think I should maybe test it).
Your post is almost 2 years old now. If by now you know more about any possible correlation with B-12 or anemia at early age , I’d be interested.
All the best!
My brother diagnosed with Parkinson’s 2000. 2008 Began Mirapex at low dosage quickly reaching 1.5 3x a day. 2010 in approx 10days
went from walking essentially upright to now
only walking with body flexed approx. 90 degrees at the hips. Cannot find anyone with
these symptoms. Would like to contact a Dr./
physiatrist who could help…is this just
Parkinson’s or an additional medical problem?
My brother would be willing to come to Mayo
either in Rochester or Florida location.
Thank you.
Barbara, an email was sent to you providing appointment information.
Hi Barbara,
I did consult with Dr. Ahlskog regarding your question. He said that what you’re describing is “camptocormia,” which literally means “bent spine” and is a problem that can occur in parkinsonism syndromes. He said that your brother’s neurologist should investigate, since there is more than one potential cause. Ultimately, if nothing else identified, further treatment of parkinsonism can be tried, but some such problems are difficult to effectively treat. You should have received information about how to schedule an appointment. Please know that Mayo Clinic Movement Disorders staff at any of the three Mayo Clinic campuses would be familiar with this syndrome.
Best,
Elizabeth