How eating habits could influence Parkinson’s disease risk, according to experts

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Growing observational research suggests that long-term dietary patterns may influence Parkinson’s risk, age at onset and possibly severity of symptoms.Mediterranean-style eating, in particular, has been associated with lower risk and possibly milder disease.That said, there isn’t a single food that causes or prevents disease, according to Dr. Michael S. Valdez, a California-based physician with advanced training in neurology. Growing observational research suggests that long-term dietary patterns may influence Parkinson’s risk, age at onset and possibly severity of symptoms. (iStock)"When we talk about Parkinson’s and similar conditions, it helps to zoom out," he told Fox News Digital. "In many cases, it’s the overall pattern over years that matters."The brain is especially sensitive to chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and vascular health, which is how well blood flows to brain tissue, according to the doctor.BRAIN AND MEMORY ARE BOOSTED BY EATING ONE PARTICULAR DIET, STUDY FINDS"Another key point is that neurodegenerative diseases develop slowly," Valdez pointed out. "Changes in movement or cognition often appear years after underlying changes in the brain have already started.""That means lifestyle factors, including diet, are part of a much larger timeline that also includes genetics, environmental exposures, sleep and physical