Parkinson's 'linked to prostate cancer in patients and relatives'

Parkinson's disease is linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer and melanoma, a new study has shown.

This increased cancer risk also applies to the close and distant family of people with Parkinson's disease, according to the research from the University of Utah.

Researchers studied the Utah Population Database, looking at the association of Parkinson's disease with different types of cancer by studying the incidence in individuals with the condition as well as their close and distant relatives.

Professor Stefan-M Pulst of the university said: "In our study, we not only identified an increased risk for prostate cancer and melanoma among individuals with PD and their relatives, but also established a reciprocal risk for PD among individuals with these two cancers and their relatives."

Meanwhile, researchers from Northwestern Medicine have identified a new test for prostate cancer which has proved to be more accurate than current screening. It is hoped the new method will reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies in men over the age of 50.

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