Disease continuum centered on Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD), once viewed as a neurodegenerative disorder, is now increasingly recognized as part of a broader disease continuum, intricately linked to comorbidities across various organ systems. This study provides a snapshot of the disease continuum centered on PD, using a disease-wide association study (DWAS) involving 392,423 individuals—including 4,235 PD cases. This DWAS identifies disease clusters of PD comorbidities across the musculoskeletal, circulatory, digestive, and respiratory systems. Moreover, comorbidities were classified based on their temporal relationship to PD diagnosis: pre-PD comorbidities, such as hypertension and autoimmune disorders, may act as risk factors of PD onset, while post-PD comorbidities, including Alzheimer’s disease and renal disorders, highlight the systemic consequences of PD progression. These findings emphasize the critical need for early detection and intervention to manage comorbidities and potentially delay PD onset. Furthermore, this study advocates for integrated diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeting shared risk factors, advancing a precision-medicine approach to improve patient care and long-term management of PD.