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Parkinson's disease risk is higher in people over 50 with anxiety disorders
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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People who develop anxiety after age 50 may have an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to a study published in the British Journal of General Practice.
In their study, the researchers examined health data from 109,435 people who developed anxiety after age 50. They compared this information with a control group of 878,526 people without anxiety.
The researchers obtained health data from primary health records in the UK.
The researchers assessed the data for signs of Parkinson's disease, such as sleep problems, depression, tremors and balance problems, from the time of anxiety diagnosis to one year before the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
Details of the study on Parkinson's disease and anxiety
Researchers reported that people who were diagnosed with anxiety after age 50 were twice as likely to develop Parkinson's disease compared with those who did not have anxiety.
Scientists noted that risk factors for Parkinson's disease include:
- Depression.
- Sleep disturbance.
- Fatigue.
- Cognitive impairment.
- Hypotension.
- Tremor.
- Rigidity.
- Disturbance of balance.
- Constipation.
Results were adjusted for age, gender, social status, lifestyle, serious mental illness, head injury and dementia.
These conditions may affect your chances of developing Parkinson's disease.
The Link Between Parkinson's Disease and Anxiety
"The study provides compelling evidence of a link between anxiety and an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease in people over 50," said Dr. Daniel Truong, a neurologist and medical director of the Truong Neurosciences Institute at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in California and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Clinical Parkinsonism and Related Disorders.
"These findings suggest that anxiety may be a prodromal symptom of Parkinson's disease, highlighting the importance of early identification and intervention," said Truong, who was not involved in the study.
Experts say primary care doctors can play a role in early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease by targeting people over 50 who develop anxiety-related conditions.
"Most often, people turn to their primary care physicians or psychiatrists for treatment and management of anxiety," said Dr. Shay Datta, co-director of the NYU Langone Concussion Center and chief of staff at the Long Island Concussion Center in New York.
"Perhaps such patients should be monitored more closely and referred to a neurologist earlier for diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. At the same time, screening and treating anxiety in these patients may improve their quality of life and mood," added Datta, who was not involved in the study.