A new study has linked eating around 11 servings of ultraprocessed food daily to a higher risk of developing early signs of Parkinson’s disease. The research, published in the journal Neurology, found that consuming foods high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats may lead to inflammation, free radicals, and neuron death.
The study analyzed data from nearly 43,000 participants and found that people who ate more ultraprocessed food had a greater likelihood of exhibiting early Parkinson’s signs, including body pain, constipation, depression, changes in smell or colour perception, and excessive daytime sleepiness. These findings held true even after researchers accounted for other factors like age, physical activity, and smoking.
Experts say that while the study did not find a direct link between ultraprocessed food consumption and Parkinson’s disease itself, it suggests that reducing processed food intake may be beneficial for maintaining brain health. “Parkinson’s is an incurable disease,” said Dr. Xiang Gao, a distinguished professor and dean of the Institute of Nutrition at Fudan University in Shanghai.
Source: https://www.gbnews.com/health/parkinsons-disease-ultraprocessed-food-risk