A common high blood pressure medication could help hundreds of thousands of people suffering from tremors caused by Parkinson’s disease, according to a study.
Standard treatment for Parkinson’s does not always prevent tremors, which affect up to 90 percent of people with this neurodegenerative disease.
The symptom, which consists of uncontrollable shaking of the hands, jaw and legs, is not usually disabling, but affects daily activities such as shaving, dressing and writing.
Tremors can often worsen in stressful situations, but levodopa, the standard medication to treat the condition, tends to be less effective at such times, failing to reduce tremors in 40 percent of patients.
Instead, researchers at Radboud University in the Netherlands gave Parkinson’s patients propranolol, a beta blocker that inhibits stress hormones, and used MRIs to map their brain activity.
In the 27 patients who participated in the trial, propranolol reduced tremors in both rest and stress periods.
“We know that abnormalities in systems like the dopamine system cause tremors,” said Dr. Rick Helmich, professor of neurology at Radboud.
‘Based on our study, we believe that the stress hormone norepinephrine acts as an amplifier that increases the intensity of tremor in the movement area of the brain.
A drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure could help those suffering from Parkinson’s disease, study says (file photo)
Propranolol, a beta blocker that inhibits the stress hormone, was found to be effective in reducing tremors in patients (file photo)
“Propranolol inhibits this amplifying effect and therefore reduces symptoms.”
It is also used to treat patients with irregular heartbeats and is effective against essential tremor, where patients experience tremors without any other neurological symptoms.
However, it can cause low blood pressure, so it is recommended only in patients in whom levodopa fails to prevent tremors.
Dr. Helmich is also researching lifestyle changes that may reduce Parkinson’s symptoms. “It doesn’t take much to trigger a stress response that makes people shake more,” he said.
‘Something as simple as asking yourself, “Did I close the front door?” you can activate it.
“We are investigating whether mindfulness can positively influence the stress system.”