Florida State University announced on April 2 that Professor Antonio Terracciano, a geriatrics expert at the FSU College of Medicine, is available for interviews during Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month to discuss recent findings about the connection between loneliness and Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Parkinson’s disease affects an estimated 10 million people worldwide. While it has long been recognized for its physical symptoms, new research highlights psychosocial factors such as loneliness as significant contributors to PD risk.
Terracciano led a study published in October 2023 that found individuals experiencing subjective feelings of loneliness have a 37 percent increased risk of developing PD. He said, “Promoting this connection is vital, as it shifts the focus toward proactive mental and social health interventions that could potentially reduce the long-term risk of neurodegeneration.”
He explained that awareness about the link between loneliness and PD is growing but remains relatively new: “Our 2023 study was the first to provide longitudinal evidence showing that individuals who feel lonely have a significantly higher risk of developing PD. Since its publication, the research has gained substantial media attention and is frequently cited, suggesting that the public and medical communities are increasingly recognizing loneliness as a critical psychosocial determinant of health. However, there is still work to be done to ensure this becomes common knowledge.”
Terracciano also noted his broader research into how psychological factors influence neurodegenerative diseases. “Beyond loneliness, our broader research program explores how other psychological constructs influence neurodegenerative risk…we have investigated the roles of purpose and meaning in life…as well as the personality trait of neuroticism.” He added these findings indicate emotional well-being plays an important role in neurological health.
On strategies for prevention, Terracciano said it is crucial to distinguish between social isolation—the objective lack of contact—and loneliness—the subjective feeling of disconnection. He stated: “Our research found that the subjective experience of loneliness was a predictor of PD risk…reducing loneliness by fostering meaningful connections (not just increasing the number of social contacts) can increase resilience against neurodegenerative diseases and promote overall brain health.”
