According to a recent article in the American Academy of Neurology's scientific journal Neurology, people suffering from depression are three times more likely to develop Parkinson's Disease. Because depression usually accompanies a diagnosis of Parkinson's, this is the first time it has been demonstrated that depression precedes Parkinson's. The study consisted of identifying 1358 people who had developed depression during a 15 year period, and identifying another 67,570 people of the same age who had not developed depression, and following their progess for 25 years. Of the 1358 participants with depression, 19 developed PD. Of the 67,570 participants without depression, only 259 developed PD.
The cause is thought to be tied to the brain's levels of serotonin that, in turn, helps regulate the levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. Conversely, because a person suffering from depression will have low levels of serotonin, it is also thought that low levels of dopamine effect low levels of serotonin.
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Depressed People More Likely To Develop Parkinson's.
