How therapy cuts Parkinson’s risk
It was found that individuals with diabetes have an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease of more than two-fold. Image: Lanier/iStockphoto A major study has found that people living with diabetes can reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease if they combine the use of two individual therapies in the management of their condition.The 12-year study based on a Taiwanese population cohort looked at the effect of sulfonylureas with metformin in individuals with diabetes. It was found that not only does diabetes increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease more than two-fold, the use of sulfonylureas, commonly used to stimulate the beta cells to produce more insulin, increases the risk by about 57 per cent.However the study, by researchers from Monash University, the National Defense Medical Centre, Taiwan, the National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan and the China Medical University and Hospital, Taiwan also found that by including metformin in the therapy,...