A new study has investigated how exposure to antimicrobials influences the risk of Parkinson’s disease development. Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that affects an individual’s movement, causing stiffness, tremors as well as issues with coordination and balance.
The condition’s symptoms worsen as it progresses. In advanced stages, patients may find it hard to talk and walk. Parkinson’s has no cure and affects more than 8.5 million individuals globally. Projections expect that by 2040, more than 12 million individuals will be living with the disorder.
Genetic and environmental factors are said to contribute to the condition’s etiology, with researchers theorizing that intestinal microbiome disruption may also play a role. Previous studies also suggest that antimicrobial use may modify diversity of gut microbiome, possibly heightening the risk of Parkinson’s disease.
For their study, the researchers used a nested case-control study design and data obtained from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink GOLD. They focused on outpatient prescriptions issued between 1995 to 2019. The data’s reliability was enhanced by the fact that antibiotics in the UK are solely available via prescription.
The researchers also identified cases of Parkinson’s using Read codes then matched each case to control subjects who had no history of this brain disorder.
They defined antimicrobial exposure by prescriptions filled at least one year before the index date, categorized by duration, type and prescription frequency. Their analysis revealed that respiratory infections were more common in the controls as compared to Parkinson’s cases.
They also found that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was more prevalent among controls than cases of Parkinson’s. The researchers also observed an inverse dose-response relationship between penicillin courses prescribed and risk of the disorder. In addition, they observed a link between heightened risk of Parkinson’s and antifungal courses.
In their report, the researchers linked the increased risk of developing Parkinson’s to different genitourinary tract infections and skin infections. They explained that adults who received multiple penicillin courses demonstrated a decreased risk of Parkinson’s while those who were prescribed 2 or more antifungal medication courses had a modestly higher risk of the disorder.
In their conclusion, the researchers noted that their findings call attention to the protective effect of penicillin while suggesting that antifungal exposure may be used as a marker for Parkinson’s rather than a trigger for future illness. Despite this, additional studies are required to investigate these links across diverse populations.
The study was approved by the CPRD Independent Scientific Advisory Committee and the Rutgers Institutional Review Board. Its findings were reported in the Parkinsonism & Related Disorders.
As more studies are conducted to better understand how neurodegenerative disorders develop, many firms like Annovis Bio Inc. (NYSE: ANVS) are also focused on developing treatments that will transform the way in which these diseases are managed.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Annovis Bio Inc. (NYSE: ANVS) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/ANVS
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