Latinos in the United States may be at significantly higher risk for peripheral neuropathy—a condition marked by pain, tingling, and numbness in the hands and feet—than their white counterparts, according to new research published in Neurology. The study, which surveyed over 8,000 adults, found that 13% had peripheral neuropathy, with Latinos showing a 32% increased risk even after adjusting for health, lifestyle, and social factors.
Study author Evan Lee Reynolds, PhD, of Michigan State University, noted that “race and ethnicity are social constructs without a biological basis and may be proxy… for hard-to-measure risk factors.” Despite controlling for known contributors like blood sugar, cholesterol, physical activity, and income, Latino participants still showed elevated odds of nerve damage.
Social vulnerabilities appeared to amplify the risk. Being uninsured increased the likelihood of neuropathy by 56%, while food insecurity raised it by 48%. Reynolds emphasized that “unknown social risk factors exist for this population,” urging future studies to dig deeper into what might be driving these disparities.
The findings suggest that Latino communities may be facing hidden burdens that standard health metrics fail to capture. With peripheral neuropathy affecting not just sensation but digestion and urination, the stakes are high for early detection and equitable care.
See: “Latinos May Be at Increased Risk for Nerve Damage” (July 18, 2025)
