Obesity and the development of Parkinson's disease within the Framingham Heart study cohort

To determine the role of obesity in the development of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Obesity has been reported to be both a risk factor for PD, as well as potentially protective. The Framingham Heart Study (FHS) is a multigenerational longitudinal cohort study that was started in 1948, which is well-known for its cardiovascular health studies. In this study, we utilized the extensive cardiovascular and neurological data to determine if obesity contributes to the risk of the development of PD.

Participants in the FHS Original and Offspring cohorts were included in this study. Controls were selected based on sex and age at baseline examination, 1:10. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used, adjusting for age and sex. PD case status was determined utilizing prior medical and neurological examination data, Framingham Heart Study examinations, and self-report data by a panel of movement disorders neurologists using the UK Brain Bank Criteria (UKBB) and other supporting clinical details after being flagged for review by FHS neurologists. We used p < 0.05 for significance.

Accounting for missing covariate data, this study included 117 participants with PD, with 1170 controls. We found that higher BMI was associated with lower PD risk, with participants with BMI 25 kg/m2 to 30 kg/m2 having HR of 0.66 (CI 0.44-0.98; p = 0.04) and BMI >= 30 kg/m2 having HR 0.47 (CI 0.27-0.84; p = 0.01). When the overweight and obese BMI groups were combined, we noted a more robust association, with combined HR of 0.67 (0.41-0.86; p = 0.01).

Obesity during mid-life potentially reduces the risk of developing PD; however, additional studies are needed to further explore this association.