Research Reveals Prolonged Antibiotic Use Could Increase Parkinson's Disease Risk
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New Delhi, Dec 2 (NationPress) Long-term exposure to antibiotics may significantly raise the risk of Parkinson's disease, finds a study.
To validate the findings on Asians, researchers from the Seoul National University Hospital in South Korea examined 298,379 individuals aged 40 years and older who underwent a national health examination during 2004-2005.
The findings, published in the Neurology Clinical Practice journal, indicated that the risk of Parkinson's was statistically higher (29 per cent increase) in individuals who were exposed to antibiotics for more than 121 days, compared to those without antibiotic exposure.
Additionally, relative to those exposed to antibiotics for 1-14 days, individuals with more than 121 days of exposure had a 37 per cent increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
“Extended usage of antibiotics was linked to a higher incidence of Parkinson's disease, even after controlling for several risk factors,” stated the researchers, who called for further studies to explore causation and underlying mechanisms.
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that impacts movement, leading to symptoms such as tremors, stiffness, and balance difficulties.
In a post on X, Dr. Sudhir Kumar from Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, emphasized the gut's potential role in the relationship between antibiotics and Parkinson's disease.
“Antibiotic use can modify the gut microbiota. This alteration can persist for several years. Antibiotics can disrupt the gut-brain axis,” Kumar explained. He pointed out that antibiotics might also exert neurotoxic effects on the brain.
The neurologist cautioned that antibiotics should be administered judiciously, considering the possible risks associated with long-term antibiotic use.
Another recent study, published in the Parkinsonism & Related Disorders journal, revealed that treatment with two or more courses of antifungals increased the risk of Parkinson’s disease by 16 per cent.
Conversely, individuals who received five or more courses of penicillin antibiotic treatment had approximately a 15 per cent lower risk of developing the disease.
