Scientists say they have found a gene which means some coffee-drinkers gain protection against Parkinson’s disease.
The Swedish researchers say people with the genetic variation enjoy a reduced risk of developing Parkinson’s.
And this is enhanced when they drink a lot of coffee.
The findings, reported in PLOS One, come from a study of patients in south-east Sweden.
The researchers identify a genetic variant in the GRIN2A gene as providing protection from Parkinson’s when someone takes a lot of caffeine.
The findings also suggest that people with this gene may enjoy coffee more than others.
The researchers, led by Naomi Yamada-Fowler, of Linköping University, say that caffeine may stimulate dopamine, the "reward" chemical that is deficient in Parkinson’s.
They say: "It has been speculated that individuals with certain genetic variations are not “rewarded” to the same extent by a cup of coffee, and therefore would not enjoy the same protective effect as others."
Caffeine Interaction with Glutamate Receptor Gene GRIN2A: Parkinson’s Disease in Swedish Population. PLoS ONE 9(6): e99294; doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0099294 [abstract]
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