Parkinson's Disease May Boost Melanoma Risk: Study

How Melanoma and Parkinson's disease are connected

Copyright 2011, James Michael Howard, Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.A.

(Liu, et al., Neurology 2011: “Meta-analysis of the relationship between Parkinson disease and melanoma”)

It is my hypothesis that Parkinson's disease may be due to both low DHEA and testosterone. ("Parkinson's disease, DHEA, and Testosterone" at: http://members.cox.net/jmhoward3/Parkinson's%20DHEA%20Testosterone.htm

Testosterone levels are significantly lower in Parkinson's disease (Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2009 Jun; 111(5): 412-4). It has been suggested that melanoma is "testosterone-dependent" (Br J Cancer. 1980 July; 42(1): 52-57).

I suggest the common factor of Parkinson's disease and melanoma is low testosterone. The use of testosterone by melanoma may increase the onset of Parkinson's disease.

Other cancers are less common in Parkinson's. “Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) are less likely to develop nonmelanoma cancers and vice versa.” (Drugs Today (Barc). 2011 Mar;47(3): 215-22). It is my hypothesis of 1994 that increased testosterone increases breast cancer, as well as other cancers, (International Journal of Cancer 2005; 115: 497). Therefore, if testosterone is low in Parkinson's, then cancer incidence would be lower.

James Michael Howard of AR 9:07AM June 07, 2011