Anxiety Diagnosis in Later Life Linked to Higher Parkinson's Disease Risk

Individuals who are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder during the later stages of their lives may potentially encounter an elevated risk, reaching up to twice the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that is characterized by a gradual onset and the presence of mild tremors, which eventually impair motor skills, communication, and posture. Although there is currently no definite cure, medication has proven to be effective in alleviating the symptoms.

New research in London focused on people over 50 who were newly diagnosed with anxiety. The study found that the average time between an anxiety diagnosis and a Parkinson's disease diagnosis was less than 5 years. Published in the British Journal of General Practice.

Researchers analyzed UK primary care clinic health records from 2008 to 2018. Participants were over 50 years old. Those without a preexisting anxiety condition for one year were considered newly diagnosed. The study included data from over 870,000 people without an anxiety disorder and nearly 110,000 newly diagnosed cases.

Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, and separation anxiety. Although anxiety is typically diagnosed in the early stages of life, previous research has indicated that older individuals with anxiety often experience simultaneous challenges related to memory and cognitive abilities.

The increased susceptibility to Parkinson's disease observed in older individuals recently diagnosed with anxiety persisted even after the researchers meticulously accounted for various factors such as age, lifestyle, and comorbidity with other mental illnesses during their analysis.

The new analysis continues to align with the established risk factors associated with Parkinson's disease, including factors such as being male, experiencing depression and fatigue, suffering from cognitive impairments and hypotension, experiencing tremors and rigidity, encountering balance issues and constipation, as well as experiencing sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and insomnia.

According to the Parkinson's Foundation, it has been estimated that approximately 1 million individuals in the United States are currently living with Parkinson's disease, with an additional 90,000 cases being diagnosed annually. It is worth noting that the majority of instances are typically diagnosed among individuals aged 50 or above, while a noteworthy 4% of diagnoses occur among individuals under the age of 50. Moreover, statistics demonstrate that men have a 1.5 times higher likelihood of receiving a diagnosis for this condition when compared to women.

Parkinson's disease is attributed to the deterioration or demise of neural cells in the brain, specifically referred to as neurons, which are responsible for the production of a neurotransmitter known as dopamine. Insufficient levels of dopamine in individuals with Parkinson's disease result in abnormal cerebral functioning. Although the precise cause remains uncertain, both genetic factors and environmental influences are thought to contribute to the development of the condition.