It is researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Mount Sinai Hospital in New York who have used data from over two million people born in Sweden between 1974 and 1999. These have been followed from the age of 20 up to 2022. By looking at data from different registers, they investigated whether there was a connection between the diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and Parkinson's disease.
In Parkinson's, nerve cells that produce the signal substance dopamine are broken down, which affects motor function. Previous studies have also pointed to dopamine playing a role in autism.
Uncommon diagnoses
When the researchers took into account factors that are known to increase the risk of Parkinson's, such as heredity, depression, and the use of antipsychotic medications, the conclusion is that individuals with an autism diagnosis had twice as high an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease compared to those without such a diagnosis.
One should keep in mind that both of these diagnoses are quite rare, and it's about low numbers, says Sven Sandin, statistician and epidemiologist at Karolinska Institutet.
Biological connections
Rather than the results, which are published in the journal Jama Neurology, leading to people with autism diagnoses being screened for Parkinson's, the researchers mean that they provide clues about how the two conditions arise.
The study points to the possibility that there may be biological causes behind the two diagnoses that are common, says Weiyao Yin, physician and epidemiologist at Karolinska Institutet and the study's lead author.
The individuals in the study were followed until they were 50 years old, so the results can only say something about those who got Parkinson's relatively early in life.
It would be obvious to continue following the group if there is an additional risk increase when individuals become older. Developing Parkinson's before the age of 50 is very rare even for individuals with autism, says Sven Sandin.
Parkinson's disease is a nerve disease that makes the brain have difficulty controlling nerve signals that control movements. There is no cure for Parkinson's disease, but there are different treatments and medications that can reduce the symptoms.
The disease is more common in people who have turned 65 years old, but can be noticed earlier. It is rare to get the disease before the age of 40.
Parkinson's disease causes the cells that produce dopamine to be destroyed. Dopamine is a signal substance that the brain uses to send signals between brain cells.
Typical symptoms of Parkinson's disease are: tremors, stiff muscles, and impaired motor function.
Source: 1177
