Introduction to Parkinson’s Disease
Around 90,000 new cases of Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed in the US each year — the neurodegenerative disorder is commonly associated with slow movement, tremors, stiffness and difficulty walking.
Mind your mind!
Understanding the Impact of Diet on Parkinson’s
Experts suggest that physical activity and a balanced diet can help lower Parkinson’s risk. A new study supports that guidance, finding that people who consume a lot of ultra-processed foods are more likely to have early signs of Parkinson’s than those who eat less junk food.
Around 90,000 new cases of Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed in the US each year — the neurodegenerative disorder is commonly associated with slow movement, tremors, stiffness and difficulty walking. LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS – stock.adobe.com
The Role of Ultra-Processed Foods
“There’s growing evidence that diet might influence the development of Parkinson’s disease,” said study author Dr. Xiang Gao of the Institute of Nutrition at Fudan University in Shanghai, China.
“Our research shows that eating too much processed food, like sugary sodas and packaged snacks, might be speeding up early signs of Parkinson’s disease.”
Methodology of the Study
Nearly 43,000 volunteers with an average age of 48, who did not have Parkinson’s at the start of the study, were followed for up to 26 years.
Participants underwent regular medical exams, completed health questionnaires and maintained a food diary every two to four years.
Researchers calculated the number of UPF servings they ate on an average day.
Early Signs of Parkinson’s
Before tremors and other symptoms, early signs of Parkinson’s include REM sleep behavior disorder, constipation, depression, pain, impaired color vision, excessive daytime sleepiness and reduced ability to smell. Orawan – stock.adobe.com
Ultra-Processed Foods and Their Impact
UPFs included sauces, spreads, condiments, packaged sweets, snacks, desserts, artificially or sugar-sweetened beverages and animal-based products.
A serving was equivalent to a can of soda, 1 ounce of potato chips, a slice of cake, a hot dog or a tablespoon of ketchup.
Participants were split into five groups — the highest group ate 11 or more daily servings, while the lowest group ate fewer than three servings a day.
Study Findings
The researchers also watched for early signs of Parkinson’s in the participants, including REM sleep behavior disorder, constipation, depression, pain, impaired color vision, excessive daytime sleepiness and reduced ability to smell.
After adjusting for factors such as age and exercise levels, participants in the highest UPF group had a 2.5-fold higher likelihood of having three or more of these early signs than those in the lowest UPF group.
Ultra-processed foods include sauces, spreads, condiments, packaged sweets, snacks, desserts, artificially or sugar-sweetened beverages and animal-based products. vaaseenaa – stock.adobe.com
Conclusion
The findings were published online Wednesday in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
“Choosing to eat fewer processed foods and more whole, nutritious foods could be a good strategy for maintaining brain health,” Gao said. “More studies are needed to confirm our finding that eating less processed food may slow down the earliest signs of Parkinson’s disease.”
UPFs often contain lots of calories, sugar, salt and unhealthy fats. They can trigger inflammation in the brain that disrupts brain function, increasing the risk of brain disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
Recent research also tied UPFs to higher risks of psoriasis, depression and even early death.
FAQs
Q: What is Parkinson’s disease?
A: Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder commonly associated with slow movement, tremors, stiffness, and difficulty walking.
Q: How many new cases of Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed in the US each year?
A: Around 90,000 new cases of Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed in the US each year.
Q: What can help lower Parkinson’s risk?
A: Physical activity and a balanced diet can help lower Parkinson’s risk.
Q: What are ultra-processed foods?
A: Ultra-processed foods include sauces, spreads, condiments, packaged sweets, snacks, desserts, artificially or sugar-sweetened beverages, and animal-based products.
Q: Can eating ultra-processed foods increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease?
A: Yes, eating ultra-processed foods can increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease by triggering inflammation in the brain and disrupting brain function.
