1 of 6 | A groundbreaking study reveals that loneliness could potentially increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, the second most prevalent neurodegenerative condition worldwide. This finding is supported by a research article published in JAMA Neurology. View the research image taken by Lucas Rychvalsky/Pixabay.
New YORK, Oct. 2 (UPI) — According to a new study published in JAMA Neurology, loneliness has been identified as a significant factor associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disorder following Alzheimer’s disease.
“The findings provide further evidence that loneliness plays a substantial role in psychosocial health,” expressed the authors of the study in their research paper.
In this study, individuals who reported experiencing loneliness had a 37% higher likelihood of being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
This association remained significant even after accounting for demographic factors, socioeconomic status, social isolation, genetic risk, smoking, physical activity, body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart attack, depression, and psychiatric consultations.
Based on data from the Parkinson’s Foundation, this disease affects approximately 10 million people globally. In the United States alone, nearly 1 million individuals are impacted, with projections estimating a rise to 1.2 million by 2030.
While Parkinson’s incidence increases with age, about 4% of all cases are diagnosed in individuals under the age of 50. Men are 1 1/2 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s than women.
Dr. Antonio Terracciano, the lead author of the study, stated in an email interview with UPI that “loneliness and other measures of social connectedness have previously been associated with various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia. However, to our knowledge, no prior study has examined the association with Parkinson’s disease.”
Dr. Terracciano is a professor in the Department of Geriatrics at the Florida State University College of Medicine in Tallahassee.
“The findings of this study provide new evidence regarding Parkinson’s disease and further support the suggested benefits of socially meaningful connections for protecting and promoting healing,” remarked Dr. Terracciano.
The study utilized a population-based sample of participants from the UK Biobank, aged 38 to 73 years, who provided data on loneliness and did not have a Parkinson’s diagnosis at baseline. This sample was assessed between March 13, 2006, and October 1, 2010, and was followed for up to 15 years.
Loneliness was measured using a single question: “Do you often feel lonely?” Responses were recorded as 0 for no and 1 for yes.
Among the 491,603 participants (54.4% female, average age of 56.54 years), 2,822 individuals developed Parkinson’s during the follow-up period.
The study defined loneliness as “a distressing subjective feeling that arises from the discrepancy between one’s desired and perceived social relationships.”
The researchers noted that it is accompanied by “increased emotional vulnerability, hypervigilance, and repetitive negative thinking about past or future events.”
“In addition to its emotional toll, individuals who feel lonely tend to engage in unhealthy lifestyles and have worse clinical profiles,” the researchers stated in their study.
Dr. Alessandro Di Rocco, a neurology professor at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra Northwell in New Hyde Park, NY, who was not involved in the study, commented via email that this research is groundbreaking and presents interesting and surprising findings. He emphasized that it highlights how loneliness can impact not only psychological well-being but also increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
According to Dr. Nandakumar Narayanan, an associate professor of neurology at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, who was not part of the study, the authors should be recognized for observing a large group of participants over an extended period to examine the potential association between loneliness and Parkinson’s disease.
However, Dr. Narayanan acknowledged several limitations in the study.
“Firstly, establishing cause and effect can be challenging, regardless of the strength of the association,” he mentioned.
“Secondly, variables can interact in complex ways that are difficult to measure.
“Thirdly, loneliness was assessed with a single question on a survey, while Parkinson’s diagnosis relied on hospital admission and death records, which may not be comprehensive. Lastly, the generalizability of the UK Biobank study population to the wider public is unclear,” explained Dr. Narayanan.
Despite the potential influence of confounding variables, Dr. Molly Cincotta, a neurologist at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, who was not involved in the study, emphasized via email that “this study contributes to our understanding of how social factors impact our overall health.”
Dr. Cincotta added, “It is known, for instance, that social engagement can help protect against cognitive decline and dementia.” She cited the significant decline in cognitive function seen in elderly individuals, including those living alone or in nursing homes, during the COVID-19 pandemic as evidence for the importance of social interaction.
Dr. Kathleen M. Shannon, a professor and chair in the Department of Neurology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, who was not involved in the study, asserted that Parkinson’s disease is becoming increasingly prevalent with significant personal, societal, and financial impacts.
Although neurologists typically do not encounter patients a decade before disease onset, Dr. Shannon emphasized the importance of describing changes that occur prior to diagnosis.
She advised individuals to actively seek passion and purpose, establish strong relationships, embrace healthy habits like a nutritious diet and regular exercise, and to remain socially and physically active in order to achieve optimal aging outcomes.
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