An increased risk of Parkinson's is nothing to sneeze at
As spring blooms into summer and summer ushers in ragweed season, more than 80 million Americans with seasonal allergies reach for antihistamines and Kleenex. In addition, 28 million children and adults contend with (allergic and non-allergic) asthma.
Not only can those conditions cause serious respiratory distress, but the chronic, body-wide inflammation associated with both appears to trigger an increased risk of developing Parkinson's.
A study published in npj Parkinson's looked at data on more than 5 million adults around age 40 and found that folks "with asthma had a 16% higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease than those without asthma," while "allergic rhinitis increased the risk by 18%." And if folks had both seasonal allergies and asthma, their risk increased by 28%. The researchers hypothesize that persistent inflammation and increased immune activity associated with those conditions may damage the brain's dopamine-producing nerve cells, disrupting motor control and causing Parkinson's symptoms.
If you have allergies or asthma (or both), how can you decrease your Parkinson's risk?
Tamp down chronic inflammation:
-- Control allergies and asthma with good medical care (discuss olfactory retraining with your doc), limit exposure to triggers and wear an N95 mask when you can't avoid the triggers.
-- Eliminate added sugars, red and red processed meats and highly processed foods from your diet.
-- Achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
-- Get aerobic and resistance exercise and practice good sleep habits.
Bonus: An anti-inflammatory lifestyle can help protect you from more than Parkinson's (heart disease and dementia, for example). So check out my free newsletter at michaelfroizenmd.substack.com for help and support.
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.4YOUngevity.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@4YOUngevity.com.
(c)2026 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2026 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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