Risk Of Early Onset Parkinson’s Disease 4.5-Fold Higher Among Individuals With Autism Than Those Without Autism 

The rate of Parkinson’s disease (PD) in individuals with autism was consistently higher than in individuals without autism, a study has found. Risk for PD with autism was 4.5-fold higher after controlling for multiple individual and familial factors, the study stated. The researchers said the findings suggested a biological link between autism and PD that warrants increased awareness of long-term neurological conditions in individuals with autism.   

The data source was a nationwide population registry that includes all individuals born in Sweden. For this prospective cohort study, the researchers focused on people born from 1974 through 1999 . . .