Parkinson’s Disease and Complementary Health Approaches

May 2018

Several complementary health approaches have been studied for Parkinson’s disease, and some have shown a positive benefit for the symptoms associated with the disease. There is some limited evidence that tai chi may improve some symptoms of Parkinson’s, but study results are mixed. Some systematic reviews and meta-analyses have found positive effects of acupuncture in people with Parkinson’s disease, but many of the studies have been of low quality so conclusive evidence is still lacking. No dietary supplements have been shown to be beneficial for symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The American Academy of Neurology issued a practice parameter in April 2006 on neuroprotective strategies and alternative therapies for Parkinson’s disease and made evidence-based treatment recommendations that address the needs of specialists and caregivers for people with Parkinson’s disease.

This issue of the digest provides a summary of evidence for several complementary health approaches that have been studied for Parkinson’s disease, including natural products and mind and body practices.

What the Science Says:
Parkinson’s Disease and Complementary Health Approaches

Modality and Summary of Current Evidence

There is some limited evidence that tai chi may improve some symptoms of Parkinson’s, but study results are mixed.

Recent reviews and meta-analyses have found beneficial effects of acupuncture in people with Parkinson’s disease, but because of methodological flaws in many of the studies, conclusive evidence is still lacking.

Only a few studies have been conducted on massage therapy for symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, so there is insufficient data to support or refute its use.

There is some evidence for the effects of music-based interventions on supporting cognition, motor function, or emotional wellbeing in people with Parkinson’s disease. There is also some limited evidence that dance, such as the Argentine tango, can be a supportive approach for people with Parkinson’s disease and has the potential to improve specific symptoms of Parkinson’s, including motor severity and balance over the short term.

Only a few trials have been conducted on coenzyme Q10 for Parkinson’s disease, so there aren’t enough data to determine whether coenzyme Q10 has any effect on symptoms.

There is insufficient evidence to determine whether creatine used alone or as an adjuvant treatment is efficacious for Parkinson’s disease.

There is some limited evidence that Mucuna pruriens may have beneficial effects on some symptoms of Parkinson’s disease such as motor function.

Results of studies suggest that vitamin E may not be useful in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Clinical Guidelines

Practice Parameter: Neuroprotective Strategies and Alternative Therapies for Parkinson Disease (An Evidence-Based Review) (Neurology)

Information for Your Patients

NCCIH Clinical Digest is a service of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, NIH, DHHS. NCCIH Clinical Digest, a monthly e-newsletter, offers evidence-based information on complementary health approaches, including scientific literature searches, summaries of NCCIH-funded research, fact sheets for patients, and more.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health is dedicated to exploring complementary health products and practices in the context of rigorous science, training complementary health researchers, and disseminating authoritative information to the public and professionals. For additional information, call NCCIH’s Clearinghouse toll-free at 1-888-644-6226, or visit the NCCIH website at nccih.nih.gov. NCCIH is 1 of 27 institutes and centers at the National Institutes of Health, the Federal focal point for medical research in the United States.

Copyright

Content is in the public domain and may be reprinted, except if marked as copyrighted (©). Please credit the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health as the source. All copyrighted material is the property of its respective owners and may not be reprinted without their permission.