Researchers from McGill University in Montreal found that patients given caffeine supplements averaged a five-point improvement in symptoms compared to those given a placebo, the Daily Mail reported.
Parkinson's is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system and its most obvious symptoms are movement-related including shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement and difficulty with walking and gait.
"This is a modest improvement but may be enough to provide benefit to patients," Professor Ronald Postuma from the university, said.
"On the other hand it may not be sufficient to explain the relationship between caffeine non-use and Parkinson's since studies of the progression of Parkinson's symptoms early in the disease suggest a five-point reduction would delay diagnosis by only six months," Postuma was quoted as saying by the paper.
Postuma and his colleagues said while caffeine does not appear to help improve sleepiness among people with Parkinson's it may have a benefit in controlling movement.
"Studies have shown people who use caffeine are less likely to develop Parkinson's disease but this is one of the first studies in humans to show caffeine can help with movement symptoms for people who already have the disease," Postuma added.
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More than 60 participants with symptoms of daytime sleepiness and some motor symptoms were given either a placebo or a pill with 100 milligrams of caffeine two times a day for three weeks and then 200 milligrams twice a day for three weeks.
This was the equivalent of between two and four cups of coffee per day, said the researchers.
After six weeks the half that took the caffeine supplements averaged a five-point improvement in Parkinson's severity ratings compared to those who didn't.
The caffeine group also averaged a three-point improvement in the speed of movement and amount of stiffness compared to the others.
The study was published in journal Neurology.