Current research shows thatDiabetes Mellitusor type 2 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease. The same study found that there is also evidence that type 2 diabetes can already lead to faster disease progression in patients with Parkinson's.
Risks of type 2 diabetes
Treatment with medications for diabetes that are already approved can reduce the risk and slow the progression of Parkinson's disease. According to the study authors, screening and early treatment of type 2 diabetes in such patients may therefore be advisable. Previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have produced conflicting results regarding the association between diabetes and the risk of Parkinson's disease. This new study, which researchers recently published in a journal, used an examination of observational data and a genetic meta-analysis. This allowed the team to assess the impact of type 2 diabetes as a risk factor for the progression of Parkinson's disease. The corresponding author Dr. Alastair Noyce of Queen Mary University in London says this study summarizes the results of many other studies.
Furthermore, the new findings provide compelling evidence that diabetes mellitus likely not only causes such diseases but also promotes their progression. There are currently many treatment strategies for type 2 diabetes, including prevention strategies, but these can be repurposed to treat Parkinson's disease. Type 2 diabetes and Parkinson's disease are common diseases that mostly affect the aging population. So this new research suggests biological relationships between the two diseases. Both are characterized by aberrant protein accumulation, lysosomal and mitochondrial dysfunction, and chronic systemic inflammation. Insulin resistance is also a hallmark of type 2 diabetes and can also be a key health factor in the development of Parkinson's disease. The resultsthis studyhowever, do not take into account the effect of antidiabetic drugs on Parkinson's risk and progression. Repurposing drugs to treat diabetes in Parkinson's disease has been the main reason for interest in the two diseases.
