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Semin Neurol 2022; 42(05): 626-638
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1758780
Review Article

Parkinson's Disease: Risk Factor Modification and Prevention

Suraj Rajan
1   Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
,
Bonnie Kaas
1   Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Funding None.
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Abstract

The global burden of Parkinson's disease (PD) has increased from 2.5 to 6.1 million since the 1990s. This is expected to rise as the world population ages and lives longer. With the current consensus on the existence of a prediagnostic phase of PD, which can be divided into a preclinical stage and a prodromal stage, we can better define the risk markers and prodromal markers of PD in the broader context of PD pathogenesis. Here, we review this pathogenetic process, and discuss the evidence behind various heritability factors, exposure to pesticides and farming, high dairy consumption, and traumatic brain injuries that have been known to raise PD risk. Physical activity, early active lifestyle, high serum uric acid, caffeine consumption, exposure to tobacco, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and calcium channel blockers, as well as the Mediterranean and the MIND diets are observed to lower PD risk. This knowledge, when combined with ways to identify at-risk populations and early prodromal PD patients, can help the clinician make practical recommendations. Most importantly, it helps us set the parameters for epidemiological studies and create the paradigms for clinical trials.

Keywords

Parkinson's disease - prevention - risk factors - prodromal Parkinson - pesticides - exercise


Publication History

Article published online:
25 November 2022

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