According to research by the National Neuroscience Institute, individuals with Asian gene variants associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who regularly consume tea or coffee have a substantially lower risk—four to eight times less—of developing the condition compared to those who do not consume caffeine but carry the PD genes. Caffeine consumers with the PD gene have a lower risk of developing PD than non-caffeine consumers without the gene.
Professor Tan Eng King, the study’s Principal Investigator, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Academic Affairs), and Senior Consultant at the Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, emphasized that caffeine has a known potential protective effect against PD and other neurodegenerative conditions. The study highlights its significant impact in reducing PD risk, thus balancing the risk levels for Asians who are genetically predisposed to PD but are currently without symptoms.
Professor Tan announced these findings at the 10th Singapore International Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders Symposium. He explained that caffeine is believed to reduce inflammation in brain neurons, which can prevent cell death. However, the specific interactions between caffeine and Asian PD gene variants remain unclear.
The research involved 4,488 participants and found that individuals with specific Asian genetic variants are 1.5 to 2 times more likely to develop PD. These variants are most prevalent among East Asians, with up to 10% of the Singapore population carrying one of these gene variants located in the coding region, which is crucial for protein synthesis.
Participants in the study completed a validated caffeine intake questionnaire. The average caffeine consumption was 448.3 mg among those diagnosed with PD and 473.0 mg among healthy controls. This is equivalent to 4 to 5 cups of Western-style Arabica coffee or 2 cups of traditional Singapore coffee made from Robusta beans, which are higher in caffeine content. The study also noted that higher doses of caffeine seemed to enhance protective benefits, though even those consuming less than 200 mg of caffeine daily saw a reduced risk of PD. Daily 400 mg of caffeine is generally considered safe for most healthy adults.
Parkinson’s disease is the fastest-growing neurodegenerative condition worldwide, with over 8,000 individuals living with PD in Singapore alone. This figure represents only a fraction of the potential cases, as a study by NNI indicated that 26% of the local elderly population show mild Parkinsonian signs. Professor Tan highlighted that these findings represent a significant advance in combatting this debilitating condition.
He stressed the broader implications of this research for PD prevention, particularly in regions like Singapore, where the relevant Asian gene variants are prevalent. In these communities, tea and coffee are widely available and culturally ingrained, offering a simple, enjoyable, and social means for individuals to decrease their PD risk.
More information: Yi-Lin Ong et al, Caffeine intake interacts with Asian gene variants in Parkinson’s disease: a study in 4488 subjects, The Lancet. DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100877
Journal information: The Lancet Provided by SingHealth
