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Common developmental condition linked to higher risk of Parkinson's-related disorders
New York Post • • health
Key Points:
- A large study analyzing Medicare and Medicaid data of nearly 57 million Americans aged 45+ found that older adults with autism have significantly higher rates of Parkinsonism-related movement disorders compared to the general population.
- Parkinsonism prevalence was 3.83% among adults with autism alone, 4.32% for those with intellectual disabilities, and 4.86% for individuals with both conditions, versus 1.57% in the general population.
- The study ruled out antipsychotic medications as the sole cause by excluding patients on these drugs, confirming neurodivergent individuals have an elevated risk independent of medication side effects.
- Experts caution that autism varies widely in severity, so not all individuals face the same Parkinson’s risk; however, clinicians should establish motor baselines and monitor for decline to enable early intervention.
- Limitations include reliance on insurance claims data which may contain diagnostic inaccuracies and lack information on symptom severity, lifestyle, genetics, or private insurance enrollees, highlighting the need for careful clinical assessment.
