Autism Spectrum Disorder Linked to Increased Risk for Parkinson Disease
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, June 3, 2025 -- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with an increased risk for Parkinson disease (PD), according to a study published online May 27 in JAMA Neurology.
Weiyao Yin, M.D., Ph.D., from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, and colleagues examined the association between ASD and future PD risk in a nationwide, population-based prospective cohort study using data from Swedish national registers. The study included 2,278,565 individuals, contributing 33,858,476 person-years.
The researchers found that PD occurred in 438 of the 2,226,611 individuals without ASD and in 24 of 51,954 individuals with ASD (0.02 and 0.05 percent, respectively [1.3 and 3.9 cases/100,000 person-years]; relative risk, 4.43). After adjustment for sex, socioeconomic status, family history of mental illness, family history of PD, and age at ASD diagnosis, the risk estimates were similar. There was no association for preterm or early-term birth with PD, nor did these modify PD risk. Independent of ASD, depression and antidepressant use were associated with an increased risk for PD (relative risk, 2.01). The association was reduced, but not fully attenuated, with antipsychotic exposure (relative risk, 2.00), with no interaction with ASD on PD risk.
"ASD was associated with increased risk of PD, even after adjusting for depression, antidepressant use, and antipsychotic exposure. These findings suggest a potential shared etiology between neurodevelopmental disorders and PD," the authors write.
Two authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted June 2025
Read this next
Onset of Sepsis in First Week of Life Tied to Increased Likelihood of Autism Spectrum Disorder
TUESDAY, June 24, 2025 -- Early-onset neonatal sepsis is associated with increased likelihood autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder...
No Sex Differences Seen for Autistic Traits in Toddlers at Initial Diagnosis
TUESDAY, June 3, 2025 -- Autistic traits in toddlers do not differ based on clinical sex when they are first diagnosed with autism, according to a study published online May 26...
Considerable Decline Seen in Self-Reported Maternal Mental Health
THURSDAY, May 29, 2025 -- From 2016 to 2023, there was a considerable decline in self-reported maternal mental health, while declines in physical health were smaller, according to...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.