KUWAIT CITY, Oct 8:  A recent study showed experiencing feelings of isolation and loneliness may elevate the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.

The study involving over 490,000 participants from the UK Biobank and spanning up to 15 years, researchers observed that loneliness was associated with a 37% increased likelihood of being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, according to what was published in the JAMA Neurology journal.

Lead researcher Angelina Sutin, a professor at the Florida State University College of Medicine, noted that this connection between loneliness and Parkinson's disease couldn't be attributed to shared genetic, clinical, or behavioral risk factors.

Although the study couldn't definitively prove causation, it strongly indicated a relationship.

Sutin emphasized the growing concern about loneliness as a public health issue, highlighted by both health professionals and the World Health Organization. Previous research has linked loneliness to Alzheimer's disease and various forms of dementia. Sutin suggested that loneliness could be a risk factor for Parkinson's disease as well.

The study proposed that loneliness might contribute to an increased risk of Parkinson's disease through various behavioral, clinical, metabolic, inflammatory, neurological, and endocrine pathways. Loneliness appears to be tied to suboptimal brain health, potentially due to heightened inflammation or other neurodegenerative processes, though it's not directly linked to Parkinson's disease.

Conversely, the study also suggested that social contact could potentially reduce the risk of developing Parkinson's disease. While this association wasn't specifically examined in the current study, social interaction is believed to have a protective effect, and further research is needed to delve deeper into this aspect.