(CBS News) Should doctors start prescribing coffee? In the latest study to tie coffee to health benefits, new research finds a daily caffeine boost may ease symptoms of Parkinson's disease in sufferers. Why am I so awake? 12 surprising sources of caffeine Study: Drinking coffee reduces overall death risk Parkinson's is a degenerative brain disease that causes tremors, difficulty with walking, movement and coordination. The condition most commonly develops in adults over 50, and occurs when nerve cells in the brain that make the muscle-controlling neurotransmitter dopamine are slowly destroyed, leading to loss in muscle function. The cause of the disease remains unknown. The study, published August 1 in the online issue of Neurology, tracked 61 people with Parkinson's who were exhibiting symptoms of daytime sleepiness. Participants were assigned to receive either a placebo pill twice per day or a 100 milligram-caffeine pill twice per day for three weeks. After three weeks, those in the caffeine group were given a 200 milligram caffeine pill twice per day, about the caffeine equivalent found in two to four cups of coffee. Six weeks into the study, people taking the caffeine pills averaged a five-point improvement on a ratings scale of Parkinson's symptom … Continue reading →

ScienceDaily (Aug. 1, 2012) While drinking coffee with caffeine each day does not appear to reduce sleepiness among people with Parkinson's disease, it may have a benefit in controlling movement, according to new research published in the August 1, 2012, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. "Studies have shown that people who use caffeine are less likely to develop Parkinson's disease, but this is one of the first studies in humans to show that caffeine can help with movement symptoms for people who already have the disease," said study author Ronald Postuma, MD, MSc, with McGill University in Montreal and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center. Postuma is also a member of the American Academy of Neurology. For the study, 61 people with Parkinson's disease who showed symptoms of daytime sleepiness and some motor symptoms were given either a placebo pill or a pill with 100 milligrams of caffeine two times a day for three weeks, then 200 milligrams twice a day for three weeks, which was the equivalent of between two and four cups of coffee per day. After six weeks, the half that took the caffeine supplements averaged … Continue reading →

CTVNews.ca Staff Published Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012 2:01PM EDT Last Updated Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012 5:02PM EDT Drinking caffeine each day might help Parkinsons patients move a little easier, making their walking more fluid and improving their quality of life, new Canadian research has found. The researchers say the improvements are small, but their research suggests theres something about caffeine that blocks malfunctioning brain signals in Parkinsons patients. The finding was a surprising one and came during a study to test caffeine as a treatment for daytime sleepiness among Parkinsons patients. Though it didnt do much for keeping fatigue at bay, it did seem to help with movement. The study looked at 61 people with Parkinsons disease with symptoms of daytime sleepiness as well as the tremors, rigidity and slow movement that marks the brain disease. The volunteers were given either a placebo pill or a pill with 100 milligrams of caffeine, twice a day for three weeks. The dose was then bumped up to 200 milligrams twice a day for three weeks -- the equivalent of between two and four cups of coffee per day. The researchers report in the journal Neurology that the caffeine didnt really help improve … Continue reading →

Parkinson's breakthrough is found with caffeine pills a new study shows. Researchers at McGill University in Montreal found that just a few cups of coffee per day helped relieve shaking and trembling experienced by those with the disease. HealthDay reported that the small study of 61 individuals showed that having about three cups of coffee per day improved patients motor skills and reduced stiffness. The so-called "cups" were actually caffeine pills taken three times per day and meant to mimic the real thing, said Reuters. More from GlobalPost:Michael J. Fox talks about Parkinson's cure and stem cell research (VIDEO) "Caffeine treats Parkinson's disease," said study author, Ronald Postuma, of McGill University, reported the Daily Mail. "There was a modest effect on sleepiness that didn't reach statistical significance, but I think it was clear that it helps patients. Researchers were cautiously optimistic given the improvement was only mild. "Where we saw the most potential benefit from caffeine was on motor aspects and symptoms," said Postuma, according to HealthDay. "People felt better and were more energetic. You could see on the exam that they were better." Originally posted here: Caffeine may help in Parkinson's treatment: study … Continue reading →

Earlier this year, a large-scale study found that coffee drinkers live longer than those who don't imbibe in daily lattes. Now a new study has found the caffeine in a cup of coffee might be as effective as some drugs at treating certain symptoms of Parkinson's disease. While a cup of Joe might make most of us feel jittery, it has the opposite effect on people suffering from Parkinson's disease. Researchers found caffeine can temporarily improve motor function in people suffering from the disease, according to a randomized, placebo-based trial published in the journal Neurology on Wednesday. [Deep Brain StimulationMay Offer Long-Term Parkinson's Relief] "It's not like we get with the best medications to treat Parkinson's, but [caffeine's] effects seem to be as good as some of the less powerful drugs," says lead researcher Ronald Postuma, of McGill University in Montreal. Parkinson's disease is a degenerative nervous system disorder that affects as many as 60,000 new patients in the United States each year and is associated with unintended shaking, balance trouble, and energy problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control, it's the 14th leading cause of death in the United States. In the study, 30 Parkinson's sufferers took between … Continue reading →