Metabolic Syndrome Linked to Higher Parkinson’s Disease Risk

By Adebowale Bello. B.Tech Microbiology, Freelance Health Writer. Medically reviewed by the DLHA team.

An elderly African man posing outdoors and looking thoughtful with his right hand on his right cheek . Image Credit: Freepik

Most people think of Parkinson’s disease as something that just happens with old age or something that runs in families but recent research suggests that lifestyle-related conditions like obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes may also play a role.

A large study has found that people with metabolic syndrome—a group of conditions that often occur together—are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease later in life. The findings are significant because they highlight a possible link between our daily lifestyle choices and brain health, hence it is important to know what that means for Africans who are battling metabolic disorders.

What Is Metabolic Syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) isn’t a single illness but a combination of health problems that tend to occur together. It includes conditions like high blood pressure, high blood sugar or diabetes, unhealthy cholesterol levels and too much fat around the waist.

Having one of these problems doesn’t mean you have metabolic syndrome, but when three or more occur together, it signals that your body’s metabolism isn’t working well.

In simple terms, metabolic syndrome shows that your body is struggling to manage energy properly and over time, this imbalance increases your risk of serious diseases like heart disease, stroke and according to this research, Parkinson’s disease.

About the Study

The study was carried out by researchers using data from the UK Biobank, a massive health database that tracks hundreds of thousands of participants over many years. The researchers analysed health data from more than 460,000 adults aged between 37 and 73 years who did not have Parkinson’s disease at the start of the study.

Participants were followed for almost 15 years and during that time, over 3,200 people developed Parkinson’s disease. The main goal of the research was to find out whether people with metabolic syndrome were at a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s compared to those without it. The researchers also considered genetic factors by checking whether people with a family or genetic risk of Parkinson’s were more likely to develop the disease when they also had metabolic syndrome.

What the Study Found

After analysing the data, the researchers discovered found that people with metabolic syndrome:

• Were 39 percent more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than those without it.
• Had their risk increased with every extra metabolic condition a person had.

That is to say, someone with high blood pressure and diabetes might have a higher risk than someone with just high blood pressure alone.

They also found the following were the strongest metabolic syndrome contributors to the increased Parkinson's disease risk:

• Abdominal obesity
• Low HDL cholesterol and
• High blood sugar .

These conditions are common in many middle-aged adults, which makes the finding even more concerning.

The study also showed that people with both metabolic syndrome and a high genetic risk for Parkinson’s had more than double the risk compared to those without either condition.

To strengthen their findings, the scientists combined their data with results from eight other studies involving nearly 25 million people. The pooled findings confirmed the same trend that having metabolic syndrome increases the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease.

What This Means for Africans

In Africa, metabolic syndrome is becoming increasingly common due to changes in lifestyle such as consumption of diets rich in processed foods and sugar, working sedentary jobs and increasing urbanisation. These have contributed to a rise in obesity, hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

Parkinson's disease has previously been viewed as a condition that mainly affects older people in high-income countries, however, as life expectancy increases across Africa and non-communicable diseases become more common, the burden of Parkinson’s may also rise.

This new study clearly shows that the brain and metabolic health are connected because the same risk factors that lead to heart disease and stroke may also affect the brain, potentially triggering neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s.

For African communities, this means that preventing or managing metabolic syndrome is not only about protecting the heart, it could also protect the brain. Simple and consistent actions such as eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active can make a big difference.

Public health efforts should also include early screening for metabolic syndrome, especially among adults over 40. Sadly, many people walk around unaware that they have high blood pressure or high blood sugar until complications arise and this is why community awareness and access to affordable healthcare are important.

Wrap Up

The link between metabolic syndrome and Parkinson’s disease is another reminder that our daily choices have long-term effects on our health. While genetics play a role, this study shows that modifiable factors like blood sugar and body weight also matter. For Africans, where both metabolic diseases and aging populations are on the rise, the findings are particularly relevant. By taking care of your metabolic health, you may be protecting your brain from future degeneration.

It’s never too early to start. Regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, avoiding excessive alcohol and regular health checks can go a long way in keeping both body and brain healthy. Parkinson’s disease may not be entirely preventable but this study gives us one more reason to take control of our lifestyle today, for a healthier future tomorrow.

Source: Zhang, X, Wang, J, Dove, A, Yu, T, Li, Q, Gottesman, R. F, & Xu, W. (2025). Metabolic syndrome and incidence of Parkinson disease: A community-based longitudinal study and meta-analysis. Neurology, 105(6). Available from here.

Related:

What is Parkinson's disease?

Hypertension in Nigerian Adults: Essential things to know

Type 2 Diabetes: What Africans Need to Know

Published: October 27, 2025

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