Serum Caffeine Could Help Identify Early Parkinson Disease

Serum caffeine levels could be used as a diagnostic biomarker for early Parkinson disease (PD), according to a recent study.

Previous research has indicated a possible relationship between daily caffeine consumption and a reduced risk of PD, while other research has suggested that no association exists.
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To further examine this issue, researchers measured levels of caffeine and its 11 metabolites in serum from 108 patients with PD and 31 age-matched controls using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

In patients with PD and early PD, serum levels of caffeine and 9 of the 11 metabolites were significantly decreased, unrelated to total caffeine intake or disease severity. Findings among patients with PD and motor complications were similar.

“Absolute lower levels of caffeine and caffeine metabolite profiles are promising diagnostic biomarkers for early PD. This is consistent with the neuroprotective effect of caffeine previously revealed by epidemiologic and experimental studies,” the researchers concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Fujimaki M, Saiki S, Li Y, et al. Serum caffeine and metabolites are reliable biomarkers of early Parkinson disease [published online January 3, 2018]. Neurology. doi:https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000004888.
 

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