Abstract
Objective: We aim to review literature and carry out a meta-analysis for the association between amphetamine/methamphetamine use and Parkinson Disease (PD).
Background: Prior studies have linked PD with long term use of recreational drugs, possibly from interplay between dopaminergic influence on reward pathways. While amphetamine/methamphetamine and cocaine have shown to be associated with PD; others such as alcohol and smoking have either not been associated or are considered as possibly neuroprotective against PD.
Design/Methods: A comprehensive literature review was performed through data-bases like PubMed and Cochrane using keywords including “Parkinson Disease”, “Amphetamine”, “Methamphetamine” and “heroin”. All studies with human subjects were included while individual case reports were excluded. There were 68 results of which 5 cohort/case control studies were examined. Out of these one study was excluded which did not define Parkinson Disease as end point and another study was excluded as it did not have a non-PD control group. Odd’s Ratio (OR) associated with exposure to amphetamine and development of PD was calculated. There were no large population based studies of heroin and association with PD.
Results: A total population of 90,560 individuals was analyzed. Of this 25,451 subjects had amphetamine/methamphetamine exposure. PD was diagnosed in 83 individuals who were exposed to methamphetamine/amphetamine and in 59 individuals from the unexposed group. Amphetamine was significantly associated with subsequent development of PD [OR: 3.21 (2.25–4.57) with p-value of <0.00001 and I2 = 0 (no heterogeneity)].
Conclusions: Our results show association of PD with use of stimulants such as amphetamine/methamphetamine. Upon literature review it was also noticed that no population based study has been done for heroin and risk of PD. There is a need for further prospective case control studies to understand environmental factors as well as other drugs of abuse which affect the disease pathology.
Study Supported by: NA
Disclosure: Dr. Tripathi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Saber has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chauhan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tripathi has nothing to disclose. Dr Factor has nothing to disclose.
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