Cinnamon May Combat Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease is characterized by a loss of dopaminergic neurons, which leads to tremors and difficulty with movement and walking.  Kalipada Pahan, from Rush University Medical Center (Illinios, USA), and colleagues have found that Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnnamonum verum) may reverse the biomechanical, cellular and anatomical changes that occur in the brains of mice with Parkinson’s disease.  Specifically, after oral feeding, ground cinnamon is metabolized into sodium benzoate, which then enters into the brain, stops the loss of Parkin and DJ-1, protects neurons, normalizes neurotransmitter levels, and improves motor functions.  The study authors submit that: “These results suggest that cinnamon may be beneficial for [Parkinson’s Disease] patients.”