THE ESSENTIAL
- The risk of developing Parkinson’s disease is at least twice as high in people with anxiety as in those who do not suffer from it.
- Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide.
- Researchers hope that identifying anxiety as a risk factor could improve the management of Parkinson’s disease.
According to the WHO, the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease has doubled over the past 25 years. Nearly 10 million people suffer from it worldwide. Faced with this increase in cases, it is essential to better understand this neurodegenerative disease which causes motor disorders.
Researchers from University College London have just made a discovery about its risk factors. In their study published in British Journal of General Practice, they link people over the age of 50 who recently developed anxiety to a later diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s: anxiety after 50 is a risk factor
To assess the links between anxiety and Parkinson’s disease, the team used primary care data in the UK between 2008 and 2018. They identified 109,435 patients who had developed anxiety after the age of 50-year-olds then compared their medical records with a non-anxious control group.
Their analyzes revealed that the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease was doubled in people with anxiety compared to others.
The study also confirms that symptoms such as depression, sleep problems, fatigue, cognitive problems, hypotension, tremor, rigidity, balance problems and constipation were risk factors for developing neurodegenerative pathology in anxious people.
“Anxiety is known to be a feature of the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, but before our study, the risk of Parkinson’s disease in people over 50 with new-onset anxiety was unknown”says co-senior author Dr Juan Bazo Avarez of UCL Epidemiology & Health in a press release.
Parkinson’s disease: we must identify anxious people
“Anxiety is not as well studied as other early indicators of Parkinson’s disease. Further research should explore how early onset anxiety is linked to other early symptoms and the underlying progression of Parkinson’s disease in its early stages, explains co-lead author Prof. Anette Schrag. This could lead to better treatment of the disease in its early stages.
“By understanding that anxiety and the characteristics mentioned are linked to a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s after age 50, we hope to be able to detect the disease earlier and help patients get the treatment they need”adds his research colleague.
