Active sexual life may benefit men with early Parkinson’s disease

Summary: According to a new longitudinal study, sexual activity was associated with lower motor and non-motor disabilities, as well as improved quality of life, in men with Parkinson’s disease.

Source: Wiley

New research published in the European Journal of Neurology indicates that an active sexual life is linked with lower disability and better quality of life in men with early Parkinson’s disease.

The analysis included a subgroup of 355 patients from the PRIAMO (PaRkinson dIseAse non MOtor symptoms) study, who were followed for two years.

The findings should prompt specialists who treat patients with Parkinson’s disease to periodically inquiry about their patients’ sexual life. Additional studies are needed to confirm the study’s findings in men and to explore whether such a relationship occurs in women with Parkinson’s disease.

This shows a frisky looking older couple
Additional studies are needed to confirm the study’s findings in men and to explore whether such a relationship occurs in women with Parkinson’s disease. The image is in the public domain.
About this neuroscience research article

Source:
Wiley
Media Contacts:
Penny Smith – Wiley
Image Source:
The image is in the public domain.

Original Research: Open access
“The PRIAMO study: active sexual life is associated with better motor and non‐motor outcomes in men with early Parkinson’s disease”. M. Picillo, R. Palladino, R. Erro, C. Colosimo, R. Marconi, A. Antonini, P. Barone on behalf of the PRIAMO study group.
European Journal of Neurology. doi:10.1111/ene.13983

Abstract

The PRIAMO study: active sexual life is associated with better motor and non‐motor outcomes in men with early Parkinson’s disease

Background and purpose
Data suggest a relationship between sexual dysfunction, mainly erectile dysfunction in men, and worse disease progression in Parkinson’s disease (PD). There is scant evidence on the correlates of sexual activity in PD patients. By involving a subgroup of 355 patients from the PRIAMO (Parkinson Disease Non Motor Symptoms) study, the present 24‐month longitudinal prospective analysis aims to demonstrate that the presence of active sexual life is associated with disease progression in early PD.

Methods and results
Multivariable mixed‐effect logistic regression models showed that gastrointestinal symptoms [odds ratio 0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39–0.82, P = 0.003] and apathy (odds ratio 0.42, 95% CI 0.29–0.63, P < 0.001) were less likely to be associated with sexual activity in men. Analysis also demonstrated that sexual activity in men was associated with lower motor disability (coefficient −2.881, 95% CI −4.732 to −1.030, P = 0.002), better quality of life (coefficient −24.196, 95% CI −44.884 to −3.508, P = 0.022; coefficient 0.083, 95% CI 0.023–0.143, P = 0.006) and lower depression scores (coefficient −1.245, 95% CI −2.104 to −0.387, P = 0.004). No association was shown in women.

Conclusions
This is the first prospective longitudinal study involving a large cohort of PD patients suggesting that sexual activity is associated with lower motor and non‐motor disability as well as with better quality of life in men. These findings should prompt movement disorders specialists to periodically inquiry about their patients’ sexual life.

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