Parkinsonism & Related Disorders · Feb 12, 2026

Association between the triglyceride-glucose frailty index and Parkinson's disease in middle-aged and older adults: a comparative cross-national analysis of NHANES and CHARLS

By Ou C, Chen B, Yu H et al.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a growing global health burden. Metabolic dysfunction and frailty have been implicated in PD risk, but integrated biomarkers remain limited. The triglyceride-glucose frailty index (TyGFI), combining metabolic and frailty measures, may provide a novel indicator for PD risk. METHODS: We used nationally representative data from NHANES (2011-2018) and CHARLS (2011-2020), including adults aged ≥45 years (NHANES: n = 5544; CHARLS: n = 7666). Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for PD by TyGFI (continuous and quartiles), adjusting for demographic, metabolic, and lifestyle factors. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) and subgroup analyses assessed dose-response and effect modification. RESULTS: Higher TyGFI was significantly associated with increased PD risk in both populations. In fully adjusted models, each unit increase in TyGFI corresponded to 88% higher PD odds in NHANES (OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.49-2.38) and 114% higher odds in CHARLS (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.43-3.16). Participants in the highest TyGFI quartile had 7.91-fold and 3.62-fold increased PD risk in NHANES and CHARLS, respectively (p-trend<0.01). RCS analyses suggested a linear positive association, and no significant interactions were observed across subgroups. CONCLUSION: TyGFI is a simple, practical biomarker strongly linked to PD risk in U.S. and Chinese older adults. Integrating metabolic and frailty assessment may aid early PD risk stratification and prevention.

doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2026.108240PubMed 41691976Biomarkers