Parkinson’s disease is the fastest growing neurological disorder in industrialized countries, particularly in older adults. It causes progressive motor and cognitive disability.
In a study that looked at the self-reported dietary intake of over 125,000 U.K. adults, consuming a healthy plant-based dietary pattern was associated with a 22 percent lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease during the nearly 12 years of follow-up, but an unhealthy plant-based diet was associated with a 38 percent higher risk.
A “plant-based” dietary pattern is one in which consumption of plant foods is greater than that of animal foods. It does not need to exclude all animal products. A “healthy” plant-based diet is based on whole and minimally processed plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes (beans and lentils), nuts, and seeds, and therefore is rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. An unhealthy plant-based diet has a lot of refined grains and added sugars and is more likely to be nutrient-poor.
Dietary recommendations are clear that swapping some meat and full fat dairy products and most highly processed foods for whole or minimally processed plant foods is a good choice for overall health.