Digestive Issues Linked to Higher Parkinson's Disease Risk

A new study finds a 76% increased risk of Parkinson's disease in individuals with digestive problems, like ulcers in the food pipe or stomach. Endoscopy analysis of 9,350 patients indicates a significant correlation between upper gastrointestinal conditions and early onset of Parkinson's symptoms. Research underscores how neurodegenerative diseases could originate in the gut.

Digestive problems, particularly ulcers in the food pipe or stomach, can increase the risk of Parkinson's disease by 76 percent, according to a recent study.

The study, which analyzed endoscopy reports from 9,350 patients, found that upper gastrointestinal conditions such as ulcers or other lining damage to the oesophagus, stomach, or the upper part of the small intestine significantly raise the likelihood of developing Parkinson's disease later in life.

Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open, the research contributes to mounting evidence suggesting that neurodegenerative disorders, often assumed to originate in the brain, might actually begin in the gut. The researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, US, noted that gastrointestinal issues generally precede the more recognizable symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as tremors and stiffness.

(With inputs from agencies.)