When you or someone you love is living with Parkinson’s, it’s easy to focus only on the symptoms you see every day: fatigue, tremors, stiffness, or slowness of movement. But did you know that Parkinson’s is often linked to other health conditions, too?

These are called comorbidities, other conditions that can happen alongside Parkinson’s. While this might sound worrying, knowing what to look out for means you can take action early. And early action often leads to better health outcomes.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the conditions that are more common in people with Parkinson’s and what you can do about them.

1. Diabetes

People with type 2 diabetes are about 40% more likely to develop Parkinson’s. Scientists believe this may be due to how both conditions affect the brain and body’s ability to manage energy and inflammation.

The good news? Some diabetes medications may help slow the progression of Parkinson’s. A recent study found that a drug called lixisenatide, used to treat diabetes, helped stop Parkinson’s symptoms from getting worse over 12 months.

What to do:

2. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

IBD includes conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which cause inflammation in the gut. Research shows that people with IBD have a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s later in life. Why? Scientists think it may be linked to the gut-brain connection. Inflammation in the gut might trigger changes in the brain that lead to Parkinson’s.

What to do:

3. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Head injuries, especially repeated ones like concussions, have been linked to a higher risk of Parkinson’s. This includes injuries from sports, falls, or accidents. Even a single serious head injury can increase your risk. That’s because trauma can damage the parts of the brain that control movement and dopamine production.

What to do:

4. Melanoma (Skin Cancer)

People with Parkinson’s are more likely to develop melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer. The exact reason isn’t clear, but it may be linked to shared genetic or environmental factors.

What to do:

5. Depression & Anxiety

Mental health conditions are very common in people with Parkinson’s. In fact, up to 50% of people with Parkinson’s experience depression or anxiety at some point.

These aren’t just reactions to the diagnosis, they’re part of the condition itself, caused by changes in brain chemistry.

What to do:

6. Sleep Disorders

Many people with Parkinson’s struggle with sleep. This can include REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD), where people act out their dreams, or insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness. Research shows that people with idiopathic REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder (iRBD) have a higher chance of developing a condition like Parkinson’s over time. This strong link makes RBD one of the earliest warning signs of Parkinson’s, often appearing years before motor symptoms begin. However, this doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed, and knowing early gives you the opportunity to monitor your health closely and take proactive steps.

Sleep problems can start years before other Parkinson’s symptoms appear, and they can make other symptoms worse.

What to do:

  • Keep a sleep diary and share it with your doctor.
  • Avoid caffeine, alcohol and screens before bed.
  • Ask about sleep studies if your sleep is severely disrupted.
  • Contact Sleep Health Foundation Australia or Sleep Disorders for more information.

Why This Matters

It might feel overwhelming to think about all these extra conditions. But here’s the empowering part: knowledge is power. By knowing what to look out for, you can:

  • Catch problems early.
  • Get the right treatment sooner.
  • Improve your quality of life.
  • Feel more in control of your health journey.

You’re not alone. Parkinson’s Australia is here to support you, your family, and your carers every step of the way.

Take Action Today

  • Book a check-up with your GP or Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist to talk about these risks.
  • Get a skin check.
  • Share this article with your care team and loved ones.
  • Stay informed, stay connected, and stay hopeful.

References

Tang, S., Huang, B., Wang, Y., Liu, Y., Wang, J., Zhou, L., … & Wing, Y. K. (2025). Brain-clinical biotyping in patients with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder. NPJ Parkinson’s Disease, 11, Article 10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-01012-0 1

Athauda, D., Maclagan, K., Skene, S. S., Bajwa-Joseph, M., Letchford, D., Chowdhury, K., … & Foltynie, T. (2022). Exenatide once weekly versus placebo in Parkinson’s disease: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet, 390(10103), 1664–1675. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31585-4

Villumsen, M., Aznar, S., Pakkenberg, B., Jess, T., & Brudek, T. (2019). Inflammatory bowel disease increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease: A Danish nationwide cohort study 1977–2014. Gut, 68(1), 18–24. https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2017-315666

Krueger, M.E., Boles, J.S., Simon, Z.D. et al. Comparative analysis of Parkinson’s and inflammatory bowel disease gut microbiomes reveals shared butyrate-producing bacteria depletion. npj Parkinsons Dis. 11, 50 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-00894-4

Crane, P. K., Gibbons, L. E., Dams-O’Connor, K., Trittschuh, E., Leverenz, J. B., Keene, C. D., … & Larson, E. B. (2016). Association of traumatic brain injury with late-life neurodegenerative conditions and neuropathologic findings. JAMA Neurology, 73(9), 1062–1069. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2016.1948

Liu, R., Gao, X., Lu, Y., Chen, H., & Schwarzschild, M. A. (2012). Melanoma and Parkinson disease: A bidirectional association. Neurology, 79(18), 2006–2012. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182735e0c

Reijnders, J. S. A. M., Ehrt, U., Weber, W. E. J., Aarsland, D., & Leentjens, A. F. G. (2008). A systematic review of prevalence studies of depression in Parkinson’s disease. Movement Disorders, 23(2), 183–189. https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.21803

Postuma, R. B., Gagnon, J. F., Vendette, M., Fantini, M. L., Massicotte-Marquez, J., & Montplaisir, J. Y. (2009). Quantifying the risk of neurodegenerative disease in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder. Neurology, 72(15), 1296–1300. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000340980.19702.6f

Martínez-Horta, S., Bejr-Kasem, H., Horta-Barba, A. et al. Identifying comorbidities and lifestyle factors contributing to the cognitive profile of early Parkinson’s disease. BMC Neurol 21, 477 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-021-02485-1

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