Going to church reduces the risk of Parkinson’s disease by up to 90 percent, research shows.
Regular religious services are thought to increase levels of dopamine, the brain chemical that plays a crucial role in the development of the disease.
And the results could explain why the disease is on the rise in countries with low religious beliefs.
Researchers from the University of Birmingham surveyed 7,124 Britons and 2,672 Americans about the role of religion in their lives.
Participants were then followed for eight years.
Those who considered religion “not important at all” were ten times more likely to develop Parkinson’s than the pious.
It’s the first time the connection has been made, the researchers say.
Parkinson’s is a progressive disease that kills cells that produce dopamine.
The chemical acts as a messenger to control movement – so sufferers tend to have uncontrollable tremors.
But the researchers wrote in the Journal of Religion and Health, “Participating in religious activities may alter dopamine levels in brain regions associated with Parkinson’s.”
The disease affects 145,000 Britons but there is no cure.
https://www.the-sun.com/health/5685753/church-slask-risk-parkinsons/ The everyday activity that can reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease by up to 90 percent