Coffee and Parkinson’s Disease. What does research say about the benefits of coffee?

Coffee and Parkinson’s Disease. What does research say about the benefits of coffee?

Research shows that coffee may play an important role in reducing the risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and slowing its progression. The main protective mechanisms are considered to be the neuroprotective properties of caffeine and other bioactive compounds, such as chlorogenic acid.

There is evidence that caffeine protects against Parkinson’s disease

Caffeine, the main active component of coffee, has neuroprotective properties. It reduces the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, as confirmed by epidemiological and experimental studies. One of the mechanisms of action of caffeine is the antagonism of adenosine receptors A2A, what can reduce neuroinflammation and improve mitochondrial functions [Ren, 2020 ].

In a recent paper published in European Heart Journal it is discussed that coffee may reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease [Thomas F Lüscher, 2025]. Drinking coffee in the morning is associated with a lower risk of mortality and cardiovascular diseases compared to drinking coffee throughout the day. Coffee in the evening can disrupt sleep, which is important to consider, as quality sleep is a key factor for brain health.

Main Findings of Research:

• Reducing the Risk of Developing Parkinson’s Disease – research published in Neurotoxicology, indicates that caffeine and other compounds in coffee may reduce the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease in coffee drinkers compared to non-coffee drinkers [Sa Weon Hong, 2024].
  
• Chlorogenic Acid as a Neuroprotector – in the book Coffee in Health and Disease Prevention it is indicated that chlorogenic acid found in coffee may prevent neuron degeneration [Ritu Soni, 2025 ].
  
• Antiparkinsonian properties of coffee leaf extract – research published in Letters in Drug Design & Discovery, showed that compounds from coffee leaves have neuroprotective properties [Christine Joyce Rejano, 2024 ].
  
• The impact of coffee on gut microbiota – the study discusses that coffee may influence the intestinal microbiota, playing a role in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases [Prabha N Bhong, 2024 ]. You can read separately about the gut microbiome in Parkinson’s disease and its improvement here

How coffee and caffeine affect tremor and stiffness in Parkinson’s disease

Caffeine may improve motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Studies have shown that caffeine can reduce the severity of movement disorders and decrease the risk of developing dyskinesia associated with long-term use of levodopa [Ren, 2020 ].

It has been proven that coffee consumption reduces tremor in men with Parkinson’s disease

Coffee consumption reliably reduces tremor in patients with Parkinson’s disease, but only in men [Bang-Hoon Cho, 2019].

Research Background:

According to several early research studies, it has been found that coffee consumption reduces the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, but the effect of the beverage on motor symptoms after diagnosis has not been studied.

In this study, scientists observed patients with Parkinson’s disease (137 women, 147 men) and divided them into two groups:

• Coffee consumers (204 people), which included everyone who regularly drinks coffee or is accustomed to it, without consuming it further.
• Non-coffee drinkers (80 people) who have never regularly consumed coffee

In the group that included coffee in their diet, there were fewer movement disorders, as evidenced by lower scores on the motor section of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale ( UPDRS; 19,46 against 22.84): less pronounced tremor (2.48 vs. 3.64), bradykinesia (2.48 vs. 10.83), better gait and posture (0.78 vs. 1.16)

When researchers included other factors (age, gender, and disease duration) in the assessment of results, the differences ceased to be statistically significant. Nevertheless, the severity of tremor remained lower in the coffee-consuming group. Moreover, the first group had significantly lower resting tremor scores (1.49 vs. 2.41), but no differences in tremor severity during active movements were found between the two groups when considering other variables. Additionally, this relationship was dose-dependent. That is, the more coffee a participant reported drinking, the lower their tremor score was. Researchers then divided patients by gender and conducted a similar analysis.

It was interesting to find that tremor levels were significantly lower among men who drink coffee compared to men who do not drink coffee and women in both groups, indicating a difference in the drink’s effect depending on gender in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Scientists have suggested that such differences may be related to hormone levels, especially estrogens. Further research is needed to answer this question [Bang-Hoon Cho, 2019].

Is it possible to take levodopa simultaneously with coffee?

Research shows , that coffee and the caffeine it contains can affect the absorption and effectiveness of levodopa used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Research data on this is contradictory because the overall effect of coffee consists of several components. Coffee can affect different stages of absorption, delivery to the brain, and drug interactions in the brain

The impact of caffeine on the absorption of levodopa in the gastrointestinal tract

• Levodopa is absorbed faster with caffeine, but after an hour, the concentration of levodopa taken with caffeine becomes lower than without caffeine.
• The graph shows different absorption of levodopa with and without caffeine. The authors associate this with changes in acidity [Anteneh Belayneh, 2020 ].
  

The effect of coffee on levodopa elimination

• The consumption of coffee may slow down the metabolism of levodopa, increasing its half-life and enhancing its availability in the central nervous system. This may improve the therapeutic effect of levodopa and prolong its action [Ren, 2020 ].

Conclusions:

Coffee and Prevention of Parkinson’s Disease

There is scientific evidence that caffeine and chlorogenic acid in coffee have a neuroprotective effect. In the scientific literature, there are mentions that coffee consumption is associated with a reduced risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. It is suggested that coffee may slow the progression of PD and delay its manifestations. The impact of coffee on gut microbiota may play an additional role in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.

When you can and cannot drink coffee with Parkinson’s

Taking coffee simultaneously with levodopa can alter its action, but the effect depends on the timing, caffeine dosage, and individual patient characteristics. Despite potential benefits, caffeine interaction with levodopa requires caution. Caffeine can alter the distribution and metabolism dynamics of levodopa, which may affect treatment efficacy and should be discussed with a neurologist specializing in Parkinson’s. It is recommended to maintain a time interval between medication intake and coffee consumption, which should be determined by the properties of the drug [Anteneh Belayneh, 2020 ].

Coffee in the evening can disrupt sleep, which is important to consider since quality sleep is a key factor for brain health

Moderate coffee consumption may be beneficial for people at risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, but further research is needed to understand the exact mechanisms of its action.

Recommendations:

• It’s better to drink coffee 1–2 hours after taking levodopa.
• Milk added to coffee, contains proteins that may interfere with the absorption of levodopa
• Monitor the body’s response – if dyskinesias increase or the effectiveness of levodopa decreases, it is better to reduce coffee consumption
• A person is a holistic organism. Besides taking levodopa and Parkinson’s disease, each patient has their own characteristics, so it’s best to discuss all questions with a neurologist specializing in Parkinson’s or a dietitian.

Did you know that tremor and rigidity in Parkinson’s disease can be alleviated with ultrasound, thereby reducing the dose of levodopa?