Consuming around 11 servings of ultraprocessed food daily could more than double the risk of developing early signs of Parkinson's disease, according to a new study.
The research links foods such as sugary sodas, packaged snacks and hot dogs with prodromal Parkinson's symptoms.
Ultraprocessed foods measured artificially or sugar-sweetened condiments
GETTY
A single serving in the study was defined as eight ounces of diet or sugar-sweetened soda, one hot dog, a slice of packaged cake, a tablespoon of ketchup or a 1-ounce bag of crisps. A typical small bag of crisps is about 1.5 ounces.
"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 Dr. Xiang Gao, a distinguished professor and dean of the Institute of Nutrition at Fudan University in Shanghai.
This study adds to "growing evidence that diet might influence the development of Parkinson's disease," Gao noted.
While the study found people who ate more ultraprocessed foods reported more early symptoms, it did not find a direct increase in the risk of Parkinson's disease itself.
"The study did not track whether participants were diagnosed with Parkinson's later on," said Dr. Daniel van Wamelen from King's College London, who wasn't involved in the research.
The study analysed health and diet data from nearly 43,000 participants in two long-running US studies, with an average age of 48.
None had Parkinson's disease at the beginning of the research. Participants self-reported their food intake every few years.
Ultraprocessed foods measured included artificially or sugar-sweetened beverages, condiments, sauces, spreads, packaged sweets, snacks, desserts, yoghurt, dairy-based desserts and savoury snacks.
The study found links between early Parkinson's signs and all ultraprocessed food types except breads and cereals.
One reason could be that ultraprocessed foods typically contain less dietary fibre, protein and micronutrients but have added sugar, salt, and saturated or trans fats.
These foods may also impact gut flora balance, while additives could increase inflammation, free radicals and neuron death.
Researchers examined the prodromal stage of Parkinson's disease - early signals appearing years before typical symptoms like tremors and stiff muscles.
Parkinson's is an incurable disease
GETTY
Body pain, constipation, depression signs, changes in smell or colour perception, and excessive daytime sleepiness can all indicate early Parkinson's.
The study found that people who ate about 11 servings a day of ultraprocessed food had a 2.5-fold greater likelihood of exhibiting three or more early Parkinson's signs compared to those who only ate three servings.
This finding held true even after researchers accounted for other factors like age, physical activity and smoking.
"Parkinson's is an incurable disease," Gao said. "Choosing to eat fewer processed foods and more whole, nutritious foods could be a good strategy for maintaining brain health."
The study was published in the journal Neurology.
