In men, having a high level of uric acid in the blood may be a sign of a lower probability of developing Parkinson’s disease , according to a new study carried out by Pennsylvania State University (USA) and published in the journal Neurology.
Parkinson’s disease usually appears in people over 60 years of age and its main symptoms are tremors, stiffness, slow movement, and problems with balance and coordination. These signs or physical manifestations get worse over time, making it difficult to carry out the most common daily tasks.
Now, new research has determined that urate, or uric acid, which previous studies had suggested as a protective shield for neurons , can anticipate the chances of developing Parkinson’s.
To do this, the experts examined 90,214 participants in three large ongoing studies, carrying out blood tests to measure the uric acid levels of each of the volunteers. Up to 388 people developed Parkinson’s disease over the course of the study.
Combining their results with other previous studies and after adjusting for other factors such as age, smoking, or caffeine consumption, they found that men with the highest uric acid levels (6.3-9.0 mg / dL) had almost 40% less likely to develop the disease compared to those with low levels (less than 4.9 mg / dL).
“These results suggest that urate could protect against Parkinson’s or slow the progression of the disease in its early stages before symptoms are seen. The results support the research on whether raising the level of uric acid in people with Parkinson’s principle can delay the effects of the disease, ”explains Xiang Gao, leader of the study.
