Processed Foods May Increase Early Signs of Parkinson’s Disease

Original Article: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/ultraprocessed-foods-tied-early-signs-parkinsons-2025a1000b5p

What the Study Looked At

A large study of nearly 43,000 adults found that eating lots of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) — such as hot dogs, chips, soda, and packaged snacks — may raise the risk of developing early warning signs of Parkinson’s disease (PD). These early symptoms, called prodromal features, include issues like trouble sleeping, body pain, depression, and constipation, and can show up years before more obvious signs like tremors or movement problems.

More Processed Food, More Risk

People who ate 11 or more servings of UPFs per day were more than twice as likely to show three or more early PD symptoms compared to those who ate less than three servings a day. Specific UPFs most linked to symptoms included sweet snacks, sugary drinks, sauces, and packaged savory snacks. The most common early symptoms linked to high UPF intake were depression, constipation, body pain, and REM sleep behavior disorder, where people act out their dreams.

Why This Matters for Your Health

Experts say that a healthy diet with more fruits and vegetables and fewer processed foods could help protect the brain. While this doesn’t prove UPFs cause Parkinson’s, it adds to growing evidence that diet can affect the brain and nervous system. Doctors say people should think about how their food choices today could impact their brain health in the future.