# Head and Neck Cancer: A Potential Risk Factor for Parkinson’s Disease?

## TL;DR

This study finds that head and neck cancer increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, especially in middle-aged patients with oral cavity cancer.

## Contribution

The study identifies a significant and persistent increased risk of Parkinson’s disease in head and neck cancer patients, particularly in middle-aged individuals with oral cavity cancer.

## Key findings

- Head and neck cancer patients had an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.89 for developing Parkinson’s disease.
- The elevated Parkinson’s disease risk was most pronounced in middle-aged patients and those with oral cavity cancer.
- The increased risk of Parkinson’s disease became evident seven years after head and neck cancer diagnosis.

## Abstract

This study revealed an increased incidence of Parkinson’s disease (PD) events in individuals diagnosed with head and neck cancer (HNC). The statistically significant rise in PD risk became evident after seven years post HNC diagnosis, with the elevated risk persisting after that. Particularly noteworthy was the heightened association between PD events and middle-aged patients with HNC as well as cases where the malignancies were localized to the oral cavity. As a result, we emphasize the importance of implementing proactive strategies for early detection and management in patients with HNC to address this elevated risk effectively.

Head and neck cancers (HNC) are frequently associated with neurodegeneration. However, the association between HNC and Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between HNC and subsequent PD. This retrospective study used data from a nationally representative cohort. Patients with HNC were identified based on the presence of corresponding diagnostic codes. Participants without cancer were selected using 4:1 propensity score matching based on sociodemographic factors and year of enrollment; 2296 individuals without HNC and 574 individuals with HNC were included in the study. Hazard ratios (HR) for the incidence of PD in patients with HNC were calculated using 95% confidence intervals (CI). The incidence of PD was 4.17 and 2.18 per 1000 person-years in the HNC and control groups, respectively (adjusted HR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.08–3.33). The HNC group also showed an increased risk of subsequent PD development. The risk of PD was higher in middle-aged (55–69 years) patients with HNC and oral cavity cancer. Our findings suggest that middle-aged patients with HNC have an increased incidence of PD, specifically those with oral cavity cancer. Therefore, our findings provide new insights into the development of PD in patients with HNC.