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Parkinson's disease increases the risk of skin cancer

People suffering from Parkinson's disease face a risk of up to two times more likely to get sick from a deadly skin cancer, according to a meta-analysis examined the findings obtained in 12 studies, published in the United States of America.

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Previous studies have resulted in inconclusive, but this meta-analysis conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), published in the medical journal Neurology, showed a significantly increased risk of developing melanoma in patients suffering from Parkinson's, a ND disease.

Thus, women who suffer from Parkinson's disease risk 1.5 times higher than the rest of the population to develop melanoma - the most dangerous form of skin cancer - and for men suffering from Parkinson's disease, this risk is two times higher.

In contrast, no link between Parkinson's and other types of skin cancer has been highlighted in this meta-analysis. The 12 studies within it have been made between 1965 and 2010.

In each of the 12 studies, the number of patients suffering from Parkinson's disease and melanoma at the same time did not exceed 10 cases, but the meta-analysis showed a clear relationship between the two diseases.

"Patients suffering from Parkinson's disease have generally a lower risk of contracting cancer, particularly cancers associated with smoking, but they have a higher risk of melanoma," the summary Hongli Chen, coordinator of this meta -analysis.

"One possible explanation for this link between Parkinson's disease and melanoma is that both diseases may share genetic risk factors and environment", added the same scientist, adding, however, that "understanding this relationship is still very segmented.

Worldwide, between 5 and 10 million people suffer from Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurological disorder that affects body movements, making it almost impossible walking, speaking and writing. The disease occurs due to destruction of nerve cells in the brain.

Approximately 132,000 patients are diagnosed with melanoma each year worldwide, according to World Health Organization (WHO). 

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