A class of drugs used for treating diabetes might help in preventing Parkinson's disease, says a study published in the journal Public Library of Science (PLOS ONE).

Diabetes patients that consumed glitazone antidiabetes drugs are 28 percent less likely to develop Parkinson's disease than patients who consumed other diabetic formulations, said researchers led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Glitazone activate the peroxisome proliferation-activated gamma receptor present inside the cells of different organs. The drug helps in reducing the insulin resistance that patients have developed in their body, reported NDTV Food.

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The investigators studied the health records of diabetic patients from UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink to compare 44,597 patients that used glitazone to 120,373 patients that used other antidiabetic drugs. The participants were adjusted for variables like age, sex, diabetic treatment stage and general practitioner practice, according to the BBC. Then the researchers noted the number of Parkinson's disease cases diagnosed from 1999 to 2013.

It was observed that patients that took glitazone had 28 percent decreased risk of Parkinson's disease than the patients that took other antidiabetes drugs. This health benefit was found to prevail only among patients that actively used glitazone and not among those who had switched over to other drugs or stopped glitazone medications.

"We often hear about negative side-effects associated with medications, but sometimes there can also be unintended beneficial effects" said Dr Ian Douglas, lead researcher at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The investigator also added that "Our findings provide unique evidence that we hope will drive further investigation into potential drug treatments for Parkinson's disease."

Animal studies and in vitro studies of glitazone and other drugs were consistent suggesting that these drugs target peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor gamma which could be rendering the body these neuro-protective effects. Neuro-protective effects with the use of glitazone are observed in patients with diabetes and it might not be applicable for people without the condition, reported Business Standard.

Dr. Arthur Roach, from the charity Parkinson's UK, added: "Hopefully the results of this study will spark further research into developing drugs that work in a similar way to glitazone drugs, and have the ability to reduce someone's chance of developing Parkinson's."

TagsParkinson’s disease, Diabetic Drugs, Glitazone, Insulin resistance, Diabetes