Healthy Diet and Active Lifestyle Reduced Mortality Risk in PD Patients

It is widely agreed upon that a healthy lifestyle, including healthy dietary choices and regular activity, improves overall well-being and can reduce mortality risk. A recent publication in JAMA Network Open found that a healthy diet and active lifestyle reduced all-cause mortality risk in patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD).

PD is a neurological disorder that causes motor impairments such as shaking, stiffness, and lack of balance. According to the WHO, as of 2019, there were approximately 8.5 million people with PD. Additionally, PD is estimated to have caused 329,000 deaths that same year. Treatment for PD can include medication or deep brain stimulation, but it does not reverse the disorder. Instead, it addresses the symptoms.

“Better diet quality, as assessed by the Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) and the alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED) Score, and higher levels of physical activity were associated with a lower risk of incident PD and prodromal PD symptoms. However, little is known regarding their long-term role in PD survival,” stated researchers in the publication.

This cohort study looked at 1251 patients with PD using data from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study and the Nurses’ Health study. Of that population, 942 died within the 32–34 years of follow-up.

According to the study, a higher intake of whole grains cut mortality risk in nearly half, with a hazard ratio of 0.56 for people who consumed increased amounts of whole grains compared to those who didn’t. Additionally, higher consumption of nuts and legumes reduced mortality risk by 22%. Finally, a lower intake of red or processed meats reduces mortality risk by 31%.

In addition to increased mortality risk in PD patients, more significant consumption of red meat is also correlated with an increased risk of heart disease.

Furthermore, increased activity levels yielded reduced mortality risk by 29%. The study also found that a healthy diet combined with higher activity levels had a 49% lower mortality risk in PD patients.

“This cohort study showed that a better diet quality and a higher level of physical activity were inversely associated with mortality risk among men and women with PD. Consuming a high diet quality and engaging in physical activity or exercise could be targets for improved PD outcome. Reverse causation cannot be totally excluded, and the results need to be interpreted with caution,” concluded investigators in the study.