Healthy eating and regular exercise may reduce the risk of death from Parkinson's disease Frontiers

In a recent population-based prospective cohort study, participants who had the healthiest diet and exercise regimen before diagnosis had a 49 percent lower risk of all-cause death, while participants who developed healthy habits after diagnosis had a 65 percent

The study is the largest study to date on the overall diet quality and physical activity-survival relationship between patients with Parkinson's

The study found that levels of diet and physical activity prior to the clinical onset of Parkinson's disease were associated with the risk of death thereafter, meaning that lifestyle habits may have long-term effects on

While earlier studies have also demonstrated a link between a healthy diet and reducing early Parkinson's symptoms, new research tracks the long-term benefits of

In the study, the researchers analyzed 1251 participants (52.

The Alternative Healthy Eating Index is used to assess the overall quality

For information on mortality, the primary outcomes were collected

In pooled analyses, patients with the highest pre-diagnosis diet score had a 31% lower risk of death than those with the lowest score (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 0.

In addition, participants with the highest scores on regular physical activity before diagnosis had a 29 percent lower risk of death than those with the lowest scores (AHR, 0.

A joint analysis showed that patients with the highest scores on healthy eating and physical activity had the lowest

The results did not differ

The findings suggest that healthy habits, both before and after diagnosis, have a protective effect

Beate R.

However, the editorial authors note that one question that has not yet been answered is whether the mortality and other health benefits reduced by People with Parkinson's disease through healthy eating and exercise are greater than those of non-Parkinson's patients

The researchers also failed to address the mechanisms
that cause diet and exercise to have a protective effect on these patients.

But there's no reason clinicians shouldn't provide dietary and lifestyle advice
to patients based on this new study.

This professional guidance has the added advantage of providing many people with PD with a measure to control their lives by participating in not only improving disease outcomes
, but also improving quality of life and life expectancy.