Metabolic Syndrome Elevates Risk of Developing Parkinson's Disease

Recent research highlights a significant link between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and an increased risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). A comprehensive study published online on August 20, 2025, in the journal Neurology, examined the relationship between MetS, its individual components, and PD development. MetS is characterized by the presence of at least three of the following factors: enlarged waist circumference, high blood pressure, abnormal lipid levels, elevated triglycerides, and high blood sugar.

The study involved a large cohort of 467,200 adults aged 37 to 73 from the UK Biobank, none of whom initially had Parkinson's disease. Researchers tracked the incidence of PD over time and found that individuals with MetS had a 39% higher risk of developing PD compared to those without MetS. Furthermore, the study observed a dose-dependent relationship, meaning that the risk increased with the number of MetS components present.

Genetic factors also played a role in the risk assessment. Participants with a high polygenic risk score (PRS) for PD and MetS had more than double the risk (hazard ratio of 2.58) compared to others. Overall, meta-analyses involving over 24 million participants and nearly 99,000 PD cases indicated that individuals with MetS had a 29% higher risk of developing Parkinson's.

The findings suggest that managing metabolic health could be a key strategy in potentially reducing the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Weili Xu from the Karolinska Institutet emphasized that controlling MetS might be a modifiable factor in PD prevention, calling for further research on whether lifestyle interventions targeting metabolic health could lessen PD incidence.

This study underscores the importance of metabolic health for neurological well-being and highlights a possible avenue for future preventive strategies against Parkinson’s disease. For more detailed information, see the original study in Neurology at source.