Beyond the brain: The colorectal impact of Parkinson's disease

Sep 24, 2025Journal of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's Disease Effects on the Colon and Digestive System

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Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) may affect over 1.2 million individuals in the United States by 2030.

PD is characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain's basal ganglia.
Emerging evidence suggests a connection between PD and gastrointestinal dysfunctions, including inflammatory bowel disease and GI cancers.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) shares common risk factors with PD such as age, gender, genetics, and environmental influences.
Research indicates conflicting findings regarding the relationship between PD and CRC, with some studies suggesting increased CRC risk in PD patients.
Other studies propose an inverse relationship, attributing it to different underlying mechanisms in PD and CRC.

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Parkinson's disease (PD) is a rapidly developing neurodegenerative disorder characterized by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia of the brain. Its prevalence is estimated to exceed 1.2 million cases in the United States by 2030. Emerging evidence suggests that PD may originate in the gut and hence is linked to gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunctions such as inflammatory bowel disease and GI cancers. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers seen worldwide. It shares several risk factors with PD, including advancing age, male gender, genetic predispositions, and environmental exposures. Although these shared factors indicate a possible correlation, the studies evaluating this relationship have suggested inconsistent results. Some research proposes an increased risk of CRC in PD patients, potentially due to overlapping genetic and inflammatory pathways. Alternatively, others argue an inverse relationship due to opposing underlying mechanisms of neuro degeneration in PD and cellular proliferation in CRC. This narrative review explores the intricate relationship between PD and CRC and seeks to understand how neurodegenerative and malignant diseases may overlap.

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Beyond the brain: The colorectal impact of Parkinson's disease

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