Parkinson's Disease Awareness - Diet

Two new studies have confirmed that adherence to a particular type of diet may reduce odds of having Parkinson’s. Previous research suggested that a diet high in vegetables, whole grains, fruits and legumes along with moderately high levels of fish but low to moderate levels of dairy, meat and poultry — the so-called “Mediterranean-style diet” — is linked to a lower chance of developing Parkinson’s. However, these studies often focused on one specific food item or nutrient.  In the new studies, researchers from a Japanese consortium followed up on those findings to understand the impact of the total diet. They recruited groups of people with and without Parkinson’s, and used surveys to collect data on what people in each group ate.  Their findings:

• Both studies found that eating a Mediterranean-style diet is indeed associated with significantly reduced odds of developing Parkinson’s.

• The New York study found that, among people with Parkinson’s, those who did not follow the Mediterranean-style diet developed the disease earlier in life than those who did follow the diet.

• In the Japanese study, a diet that was characterized by a high intake of vegetables, seaweed, pulses, mushrooms, fruits and fish was inversely associated with the risk of PD with a border-line significance.

To learn more about diet and Parkinson’s disease, visit www.pdf.org.  Home Helpers has provided in home care and senior care for over a decade.  Call us at 704-909-7958, or visit our website if you have any questions.