Creatine Could Slow Parkinson’s Disease

A supplement used by athletes to boost energy levels and build muscle may be able to slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease, a new study suggests.

Creatine, an over the counter energy and muscle supplement already under study for a number of neurological and neuromuscular diseases such as Lou Gehrig’s and muscular dystrophy, may also help Parkinson’s patients by giving an energy boost to dying cells, says US neurologist Dr. Kapil D. Sethi.

“We think it may help cells that are damaged or overworked,” says Sethi, an investigator for the Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke study.

Mitochondria, the powerhouse for cells, become dysfunctional in the brain, muscle and platelet cells of many patients with Parkinson’s disease.

“By giving more energy to the cells, you are giving them a safety margin,” says Sethi. “If a cell is dying, it takes another route and that would be surviving.”

Around 120,000 people in the UK to have Parkinson’s disease, with ten thousand new cases being diagnosed each year. Symptoms include tremors, rigidity and slowed movement. Late in the disease, the majority of patients also develop dementia and behaviour disorders.

Today’s therapies are geared toward treating symptoms. Researchers hope newer therapies, including creatine, can be added to the mix to help slow the disease.

Those who use creatine may have the added benefit of increased muscle, as is true of athletes, Dr. Sethi says, noting that many Parkinson’s patients experience muscle atrophy and weight loss

Source : www.keepthedoctoraway.co.uk