Objective: The purpose of the current study is to determine if non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD) among LRRK2 G2019S mutation carriers.

Background: LRRK2 G2019S is the most common autosomal dominant cause of PD, but penetrance is not complete. Increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines have been found in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). There is evidence to suggest that there is a protective role for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in PD. Researchers have hypothesized that LRRK2 mutations may cause changes in microglia cells that sensitize these cells toward a pro-inflammatory state.

Methods: Data used in preparation of this article were obtained from the MJFF-sponsored LRRK2 Cohort Consortium (LCC). The LRRK2 Cohort Consortium is coordinated and funded by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. For up-to-date information on the study, visit https://www.michaeljfox.org/page.html?lrrk2-cohort-consortium&navid=lrrk2-cohort-consortium. We examined LRRK2 G2019S mutation carriers with PD (n = 112; age 64.8 ± 11.0; 50.0% male) and without PD (n = 94; age 49.2 ± 14.5; 37.2% male). Regular NSAID use was defined as 2 or more ibuprofen, aspirin, or non-ibuprofen anti-inflammatory pills per week for > 6 months at any point during their lifetime. Regular NSAID use was reported in 25.0% of participants with PD and in 25.5% of participants without PD. A hierarchical binary logistic regression controlling for age, gender, alcohol use, tobacco use, and history of head injuries was conducted examining regular NSAID use and risk of developing PD.

Results: A test of the model containing the control variables (e.g., risk factors) was statistically significant, χ² (5, N = 206) = 80.29, p < .001, indicating that the predictors, as a set, reliably distinguished between participants with and without PD. A second model containing categorical variables related to regular NSAID use was not statistically significant, χ² (3, N = 206) = 0.94, p = .82.

Conclusions: Regular ibuprofen, aspirin, and non-aspirin NSAID use were not significant predictors of PD in LRRK2 G2019S mutation carriers after controlling for risk factors such as age, gender, alcohol use, tobacco use, and history of head injury. Further research with prospective and more detailed evaluation of NSAID use may be warranted.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-role-of-non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory-use-in-symptomatic-and-asymptomatic-lrrk2-g2019s-mutation-carriers/