# Association between functional gastrointestinal disorders and Parkinson’s disease in a prospective cohort study

## TL;DR

This study found that people with functional gastrointestinal disorders are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease, and mental health plays a role in this link.

## Contribution

This is the first prospective cohort study to show a significant association between FGIDs and PD onset, with mediation by mental health.

## Key findings

- FGIDs increased the risk of Parkinson’s disease onset with a hazard ratio of 1.74.
- Functional dyspepsia and other FIDs also showed increased PD risk.
- Mental health scores partially mediated the FGID-PD association.

## Abstract

The influence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) on the onset of Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we examined the effect of FGIDs and their subtypes on the PD onset. In Cox proportional hazards model, FGIDs significantly increased the risk of PD incidence [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.30–2.33]. Similar results were also observed for functional dyspepsia (HR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.17–2.52) and other functional intestinal disorders (other FIDs) (HR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.00–2.78). Mediation analyses revealed that mental health scores mediated 10.00% and 8.32% of the association between FGIDs and functional dyspepsia and PD development. This cohort study discovered that FGIDs increase the risk of developing PD. Similar effects can also be observed in functional dyspepsia and other FIDs and mental health mediates part of the effect of FGIDs and functional dyspepsia on PD.