Loneliness Linked to Increased Risk of Parkinson's Disease: JAMA

A recent study published in the Journal of American Medical Association discovered a concerning link between loneliness and the risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD). Loneliness, often underestimated in its impact on health, has now been associated with a higher likelihood of PD, an age-related neurodegenerative disorder.

The study examined a broad range of individuals in the UK Biobank, aging from 38 to 73 years old. These participants were initially assessed between March 13, 2006, and October 1, 2010, and tracked until October 9, 2021. Crucially, none of the participants had a PD diagnosis at the beginning of the study.

Out of the 491,603 individuals in the study, 2,822 developed PD over the course of the 15-year follow-up. What's significant is that those who reported feeling lonely had a notably higher risk of developing PD. The data revealed a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.37, indicating a 37% increased risk of PD among individuals who experienced loneliness.

Even after adjusting for a wide array of known risk factors, including demographic factors, socioeconomic status, social isolation, genetic predisposition, and various health-related factors like smoking, physical activity, and diabetes, the link between loneliness and PD remained strong. In this fully adjusted model, the HR remained significant at 1.25.

Surprisingly, the association between loneliness and PD was consistent across different demographics and not influenced by factors such as gender, age, or genetic risk.

Intriguingly, the study also revealed a temporal aspect to this association. Loneliness was not found to be significantly associated with PD risk during the first five years of the study, but it became a risk factor during the subsequent 10 years.

This study demonstrates that loneliness, often viewed as a psychosocial issue, has tangible consequences for physical health. It underscores the need for greater awareness of the mental and emotional well-being of individuals, especially as they age, and highlights the importance of social connections and support systems in preventing and managing neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's. 

Source:

Terracciano, A., Luchetti, M., Karakose, S., Stephan, Y., & Sutin, A. R. (2023). Loneliness and Risk of Parkinson Disease. In JAMA Neurology. American Medical Association (AMA). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.3382