A new study shows that people who eat a lot of ultra-processed foods may be more likely to show early signs of Parkinson’s disease.
These foods include things like sugary breakfast cereals, cookies, soda, and hot dogs. The research was published on May 7, 2025, in the journal Neurology, which is part of the American Academy of Neurology.
Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that affects movement. People with Parkinson’s may shake, move slowly, or have trouble with balance. But before these main symptoms show up, there is an early stage called prodromal Parkinson’s.
In this stage, the brain is already starting to change, but symptoms like tremors haven’t appeared yet. Early signs may include trouble sleeping, feeling down, constipation, pain, problems with smell, or feeling sleepy during the day.
In this study, scientists followed 42,853 adults who were about 48 years old on average. None of them had Parkinson’s at the beginning of the study. The researchers followed them for up to 26 years.
During this time, participants had regular check-ups and filled out health forms. The scientists looked for early signs of Parkinson’s and also tracked what the participants ate by asking them to fill out food diaries every two to four years.
The researchers focused on ultra-processed foods. These are factory-made items that often contain added sugar, fats, or preservatives. Examples include packaged snacks, sugary drinks, ready-to-eat meals, and some sauces and spreads. The team counted one serving as something like one can of soda, one ounce of chips, or one hot dog.
Based on how much of these foods people ate each day, the researchers placed them into five groups. People in the top group ate 11 or more servings of ultra-processed food per day. People in the bottom group ate fewer than three servings per day.
After taking into account age, smoking, and exercise habits, the study found that those who ate the most processed foods were about 2.5 times more likely to have at least three early signs of Parkinson’s than those who ate the least.
In particular, processed food consumption was linked to most early symptoms of Parkinson’s, like trouble with sleep or smell, though constipation didn’t seem to be affected.
Dr. Xiang Gao from Fudan University in Shanghai, the lead author of the study, explained that our food choices can have a big impact on our brain health. He said that there is growing evidence linking diet to diseases like Parkinson’s. He suggests that eating fewer processed foods might help protect the brain as we age.
Still, it’s important to note that the study does not prove that processed food causes Parkinson’s. It only shows a connection. One problem with the study is that participants reported their own food intake, which might not always be accurate.
The research was supported by health and science groups in China and the United States, including the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
In summary, this study adds to the evidence that diet can influence brain health. While more research is needed, choosing whole foods over processed ones could be a smart step toward lowering the risk of early signs of brain diseases like Parkinson’s.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies that Vitamin B may slow down cognitive decline, and Mediterranean diet could help lower risk of Parkinson’s.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline, and results showing Plant-based diets could protect cognitive health from air pollution.
The study is published in Neurology.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
