Researchers from the US and China found that people who consume high amounts of ultra-processed foods are more likely to develop early signs of Parkinson's disease. The study, published in the journal Neurology, involved nearly 43,000 participants and spanned over two decades, according to The New York Times.
The study included 42,853 people with an average age of 48 who did not have Parkinson's disease at the start and were followed for up to 26 years. Every two to four years, the participants were asked about the types and amounts of foods they typically consumed. They completed food diaries, listing what they ate and how often, as reported by the New York Post.
Participants were divided into five groups based on their average daily consumption of ultra-processed foods. The highest group consumed at least 11 servings per day, while the lowest group consumed fewer than three servings. Researchers found that the group with the highest consumption had a 2.5 times greater likelihood of presenting three or more early signs of Parkinson's disease compared to those who consumed less, according to EurekAlert.
"There's growing evidence that diet might influence the development of Parkinson's disease. 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," said Xiang Gao, a researcher at the Institute of Nutrition at Fudan University in Shanghai, according to the New York Post.
The scientists determined whether the volunteers had early non-motor signs of Parkinson's disease, including rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, depressive symptoms, bodily pain, color vision disturbance, excessive daytime sleepiness, and reduced ability to smell, as noted by EurekAlert.
The study found an association between poor diet, particularly high consumption of ultra-processed foods, and the early appearance of Parkinson's symptoms. However, the researchers emphasized that the study does not establish a causal relationship but serves as a "wake-up call" that reinforces the link between unhealthy diets and the development of neurodegenerative diseases, as reported by El Mundo.
"More studies are needed to confirm our finding that eating less processed food may slow down the earliest signs of Parkinson's disease," Gao added, according to EurekAlert.
Experts noted some limitations in the study. Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell, a neurologist at the Pacific Parkinson's Research Centre at the University of British Columbia, praised the study for its size and duration but pointed out that the diet data was self-reported by participants, which may not reflect exactly what and how much they ate. She also noted that the participants were mostly white health professionals, which limits the generalization of the findings to more diverse populations.
"It's important to investigate early signs of Parkinson's disease to help understand how lifestyle changes could slow or prevent the disease," Cresswell said, according to The New York Times.
Ultra-processed foods often contain lots of calories, sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. Previous studies have linked high consumption of ultra-processed foods to health conditions like heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, dementia, and some types of cancer.
Researchers suggested that certain additives in ultra-processed foods or the chemicals in their packaging may cause inflammation, cell damage, or microbiome changes that eventually harm brain cells. "How might eating ultra-processed foods increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease? That's the billion-dollar question," said Alberto Ascherio, as reported by The New York Times.
Early symptoms of Parkinson's disease include constipation, acting out dreams while sleeping, a reduced ability to smell, trouble telling the difference between colors, depression, and daytime sleepiness. The researchers found that a diet high in ultra-processed foods raised the risk for all early Parkinson's symptoms except constipation.
"There is increasing evidence that diet may influence the development of Parkinson's disease. Choosing to eat fewer processed foods and more whole, nutritious foods could be a good strategy for maintaining brain health," Gao summarized, according to EurekAlert.
In light of these findings, experts suggest that physical activity and a balanced diet can help lower the risk of Parkinson's disease. Leading a healthy lifestyle has been associated with a lower risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
"If you are improving your diet, it's not just for one thing. What you eat for your brain is also good for your heart, is also good for your overall well-being," said Puja Agarwal, a nutritional epidemiologist at Rush University in Chicago who was not involved with the study, according to The New York Times.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.