Ultra-processed foods linked to early Parkinson’s-like symptoms

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A study recently published in the medical journal Neurology looked at health and diet data from nearly 43,000 adults in the U.S. found that people who ate more ultra-processed foods, like sugary drinks, packaged snacks, and fast food, tended to report more early symptoms related to Parkinson’s disease. However, the study did not show a direct link between processed food intake and an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s itself. While further studies are needed, the findings point to a potential connection between diet and brain health, highlighting the importance of limiting ultraprocessed food consumption.

Source

Wang, P., Chen, X., Na, M., Flores-Torres, M. H., Bjornevik, K., Zhang, X., Chen, X., Khandpur, N., Rossato, S. L., Zhang, F. F., Ascherio, A., & Gao, X. (2025). Long-Term Consumption of Ultraprocessed Foods and Prodromal Features of Parkinson Disease. Neurology, 104(11), e213562. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000213562

Additional Reading

https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/07/health/ultraprocessed-food-parkinsons-disease-wellness

https://www.neurology.columbia.edu/news/parkinsons-disease-prevention-may-begin-dinner-table

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/ultra-processed-foods-tied-parkinsons-161418779.html