Estimates suggest that roughly one-million Americans will be living with Parkinson’s by 2020. A new study is showing that some people, however, may slow the progression of the disease and limit symptoms with a healthy sex life.
The two-year study published in the European Journal of Neurology found that men who had an active sex life were able to slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease and delay major symptoms.
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Prior research has linked a close relationship between sexual health and general health in both healthy individuals and those with chronic disease. This new work is unique in the fact that it looked specifically at individuals with a Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Looking at 355 Parkinson’s patients (238 men and 117 women), researchers found that sexually active males in the early stages of the disease experienced “milder” disease progression. They also had less dramatic loss of motor skills and other symptoms compared to those who were not sexually active.
Researchers aren’t entirely sure why the effects occurred in men suffering from the neurodegenerative disease and not women, but it might have something to do with the fact that male participants outnumbered female two to one.
There is currently no cure or prevention techniques for Parkinson’s disease, and symptoms are very difficult to treat. The debilitating symptoms of the condition include:
- Uncontrollable tremors
- Difficulty walking
- Stooping
- Rigidity
- Dizziness
- Balance trouble
Anything a person can do to keep symptoms from worsening, and delaying onset is very exciting. Of course, much more work needs to be done to say whether more sex does have notable benefits for Parkinson’s patients.
Even if you don’t have Parkinson’s, more sex can be a good thing. Some of the other noted benefits of sex may include:
- Better immune function
- Improved libido
- Bladder control (for women)
- Lower blood pressure
- Increases activity
- Reduces pain
- Lowers risk for prostate troubles
- Improves sleep
- Eases stress
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
