A recent study published on 20 August 2025 in Neurology®, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology, has found that people with metabolic syndrome face a heightened risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. While the findings highlight a significant association, the researchers caution that the results do not prove metabolic syndrome directly causes Parkinson’s. Instead, the study underscores a possible link between the two conditions, raising important questions about prevention and risk management.
Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed when a person has three or more of the following factors: excess abdominal fat, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, higher-than-normal triglyceride levels, and reduced levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), commonly known as the “good” cholesterol. Each of these elements places stress on the body’s metabolic and cardiovascular systems, and together they form a profile that increases vulnerability to a wide range of diseases, now including Parkinson’s.
“Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder among older adults, after Alzheimer’s disease, and metabolic syndrome affects roughly one in four adults worldwide,” said lead author Weili Xu, PhD, of the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm. “Our findings suggest that metabolic syndrome may be a modifiable risk factor for Parkinson’s disease. More research is needed to determine whether improving metabolic health can actually help prevent the onset of Parkinson’s.”
The research team tracked 467,200 participants, with an average age of 57, over a median period of 15 years. Of those, 38% were identified as having metabolic syndrome. Over the study period, 3,222 people developed Parkinson’s disease. After adjusting for age, lifestyle factors such as smoking and physical activity, and genetic predispositions, the researchers found that individuals with metabolic syndrome were around 40% more likely to develop Parkinson’s than those without it. A complementary meta-analysis, combining this study with eight previous investigations, confirmed the association, showing that people with metabolic syndrome have a 29% increased risk overall.
The study also discovered that people who had both metabolic syndrome and a genetic susceptibility to Parkinson’s faced an even greater risk, underscoring the importance of maintaining metabolic health, especially in genetically predisposed individuals. However, the researchers note a limitation: the study population was predominantly white, which means the findings may not fully represent other ethnic groups. Despite this, the results suggest that managing weight, blood pressure, and other metabolic factors could be a practical way to lower the risk of Parkinson’s disease on the broader population.
More information: Weili Xu et al, Metabolic Syndrome and Incidence of Parkinson Disease, Neurology. DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000214033
Journal information: Neurology Provided by American Academy of Neurology
