A woman at home feeling anxious (Image: Getty) Scientists have made the shocking discovery that a prevalent condition could serve as an early warning sign of Parkinson's disease, a progressive nervous system disorder primarily affecting movement. Initially appearing as an inconsequential tremor in one hand, the disease progressively results in stiffness or slowed down movement. It has now been found that individuals over 50 who are diagnosed with anxiety have double the risk of being diagnosed with Parkinson's compared to those without the affliction.
The authors of the study state, "There was a two-fold increase in risk of Parkinson's in patients with first presentation of anxiety aged above 50. The clinical features of those who developed Parkinson's can help identify patients presenting with anxiety who are in the early stage of the condition." This groundbreaking research conducted by scientists at University College London utilised UK data from a whopping 109,435 patients who had experienced anxiety post-50 and pitted it against 878,256 control members without anxiety, according to the study published in the British Journal of General Practice.
Dr Juan Bazo Alvarez, the co-lead author of the research underscored: "Anxiety is known to be a feature of the early stages of Parkinson's disease, but prior to our study, the prospective risk of Parkinson's in those over the age of 50 with new-onset anxiety was unknown. By understanding that anxiety and the mentioned features are.