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Caffeine fails to relieve Parkinson’s symptoms

Dispelling prior research, new data published in Neurology revealed that caffeine does not improve involuntary movement symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

“Multiple studies have consistently linked the use of caffeine, an adenosine antagonist, to a lower risk of Parkinson disease,” Ronald B. Postuma, MD, MsC, from McGill University, Montreal, and colleagues wrote.

Postuma and colleagues conducted a multicenter parallel-group controlled trial to evaluate how caffeine impacts objective motor scores at 6 months, motor symptoms, motor fluctuations, sleep, nonmotor symptoms, cognition and quality of life compared with placebo in patients with Parkinson’s disease. The researchers also tested the safety and tolerability of caffeine. They recruited 121 patients (average age, 62 years) with Parkinson’s disease (Hoehn and Yahr stages I–III) who had the disease for 1 to 8 years (average, 4 years) and were on stable symptomatic therapy. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either caffeine (n = 60) or matching placebo capsules (n = 61) twice daily for 6 to 18 months. The researchers increased the dose of caffeine slowly until reaching 200 mg at week 9.

Results showed that caffeine was well-tolerated. The prevalence of side effects was similar among both groups. Caffeine treatment did not improve objective motor scores compared with placebo as determined by points on the Movement Disorder Society-sponsored Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III (difference between groups, –0.48; 95% CI, –3.21 to 2.25). In addition, motor signs and motor symptoms did not change at any time point. Quality of life did not differ between groups.

During the first 6 months, somnolence improved slightly with caffeine; however, this improvement weakened over time. Dyskinesia scores among patients receiving caffeine worsened by 0.25 points, according to researchers. Furthermore, cognitive testing scores were worse in the caffeine group than the placebo group (average Montreal Cognitive Assessment, 0.66 worse than placebo).

“While our previous study showed possible improvement in symptoms, that study was shorter, so it’s possible that caffeine may have a short-term benefit that quickly dissipates,” Postuma said in a press release. “Regardless, our core finding is that caffeine cannot be recommended as therapy for movement symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.” – by Alaina Tedesco

Disclosures: Postuma reports receiving grant funding from the Canadian Institute of Health Research, Fonds de Recherche du Québec-Santé and Webster Foundation. The other authors report no relevant financial disclosures.