A nationwide cohort study conducted in Sweden found that individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) had a significantly higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD) by early to mid-adulthood, compared to those without ASD. The study followed 2.28 million individuals from age 20 through 2022 and identified a fourfold increased relative risk of PD in individuals with ASD, even after adjusting for various factors. The findings suggest a potential connection between early neurodevelopmental conditions and later-life neurodegeneration, pointing to the need for further research in understanding the mechanisms linking ASD and PD.

Source: JAMA Neurology