Coffee consumption has been linked to lower instances of Parkinson’s and other neurogenerative disease, many of which we’ve covered over the years. And a new study takes an even closer inspection at the phenomenon by looking at a genetic level. Turns out, coffee’s efficacy may be due as much to your genetic makeup as the amount consumed.
As reported by News-Medical.net, a study in the journal NPJ Parkinson’s Disease examines how various mutations of the CYP1A2 gene interact with differing levels of daily coffee consumption to impact instances of Parkinson’s. CYP1A2 is widely used in coffee research as it is the gene dictating how the body metabolizes caffeine.
For the study, researchers examined over 400,000 individuals as part of the UK Biobank, all of whom were Parkinson’s free at the beginning of the on-average 15-year survey. Participants underwent genetic testing and were broken down into three different categories based on their CYP1A2 type: AA, or rapid caffeine metabolizers; AC, intermediate metabolizers; and CC, slow metabolizers. Participant groups were further broken down based upon self-reported daily consumption levels: 0 cups, less than five, and five or more.
When applying these groups to the 3,319 instances of Parkinson’s developed in the survey, a few trends emerged. The AC and CC groups that consumed higher amounts of coffee had a “significant increase in [Parkinson’s] risk” when compared to those who didn’t consume coffee. The progression was mostly linear, meaning the more coffee consumed the higher the risk.
The AA group, the rapid metabolizers, their result was non-linear. Those who drank less than five cups a day were associated with a decreased risk of Parkinson’s, with the most dramatic effect coming from those who reported drinking around three cups a day.
The general conclusion is that, when it comes to Parkinson’s, caffeine in coffee is beneficial to a certain point. And where that point is depends upon how long the caffeine stays in your system before being metabolized, ie what type of CYP1A2 you possess. Of course, this is all observational, meaning no causal relationship can be established. Still it’s worth being mindful of. It once again goes to show that there can be too much of a good thing.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
