A new study has found a potential link between high intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and the early development of Parkinson’s disease.
Researchers observed that individuals who consumed large amounts of UPFs—such as packaged snacks, cookies, sugary drinks, and ready-to-eat meals—were more likely to show signs of prodromal Parkinson’s, a stage where early symptoms emerge before a formal diagnosis.
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The study analysed the data of nearly 43,000 participants, aged around 48; none had Parkinson’s disease at the beginning of the study. The team followed them for 26 years, conducting regular check-ups and tests. Participants completed a food diary every two to four years, listing what they ate and how often.
Researchers calculated how many ultra-processed foods participants ate on average per day. They found that participants who ate 11 or more servings of ultra-processed foods per day had a 2.5-fold higher likelihood of having three or more early signs of Parkinson’s disease compared to those consuming fewer than three servings per day.
The team also discovered a link between eating more ultra-processed foods and a higher risk for almost all symptoms, with the exception of constipation.
While the study does not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, the findings add to growing evidence that diet quality plays a key role in neurological health. “There’s growing evidence that diet might influence the development of Parkinson’s disease. Our research shows that eating too much processed food, like sugary sodas and packaged snacks, might be speeding up early signs of Parkinson’s disease,” said senior study author Dr Xiang Gao, dean of the Institute of Nutrition at Fudan University in Shanghai, China.
