High Blood Uric Acid Slows Development of Parkinson’s

Chance observations led a few neurologists to suspect that Parkinson patients with high blood uric acid levels might have slower progression of their disease.  This stimulated experts in the disease to conduct additional analyses of data from a landmark study that started in 1987.  Their report is in the Archives of Neurology. 

The study in question was a comparison of vitamin E, deprenyl (Selegiline®), or a combination of both vs. placebo, to see if one or other could slow progression of the disease.  About 800 people with Parkinson’s disease were enrolled, and amongst other exams had blood and cerebrospinal fluid taken at baseline and after 14 months. Results showed that vitamin E had no benefit, while deprenyl was somewhat effective in relieving symptoms.   

Twenty years later, the blood results from 774 patients and cerebrospinal fluid from 713 patients were re-analyzed.  The pre-treatment uric acid levels were compared with the time to progression to clinical disability calling for levodopa therapy.  In those patients not receiving vitamin E, the disease progressed more slowly in those participants with the highest levels of uric acid in blood and spinal fluid than in those with the lowest levels.     

It’s not clear whether the role of uric acid is that of a relevant factor in the cause of Parkinson’s, or a lower uric acid is merely a marker for the aggressiveness of the disease.  We shall certainly learn more in future years.  A study is in preparation of a possible role for inosine, a nutritional supplement known to raise urate levels in the body.  However, until more is known, Parkinson patients are cautioned against taking inosine on their own accord.