Did you know that pessimistic and anxious people are at a greater risk for Parkinson’s disease years down the road? Parkinson’s is a disorder that affects nerve cells in the part of the brain that controls muscle movement. It is characterized by trembling, muscle rigidity, difficulty walking, and problems with balance and coordination. In a recent study, researchers followed nearly 5,000 men and women who took a standardized personality test between 1962 and 1965. A total of 128 of the participants developed Parkinson’s over the next 35 to 40 years, but it was those that scored the highest on the anxiety (60% more likely) and pessimism (up to 50% more likely) scale that were most likely to develop the disease. It should be pointed out that this study, presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, does not show that anxiety or pessimism causes Parkinson’s…only that there is a link. There are several theories as to exactly what the link is, but according to James Bower, MD, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., “That’s still and unanswered question.” Bower hopes that future research will provide more answers and help doctors learn whether treatment of anxiety or pessimism can help stave off Parkinson’s disease.

SOURCES: American Academy of Neurology 57th Annual Meeting, April 9-16, 2005, Miami Beach, Fla. James Bower, MD, neurologist, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Stanley Fahn, MD, professor of neurology, Columbia University; past president, American Academy of Neurology. Ettore Beshi, MD, neurologist, Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy.