Can pesticides cause Parkinson's disease?

Researchers have analysed more than 100 global studies to show that exposure to pesticides, weed killers and solvents is likely to be associated with a higher risk for developing Parkinson's disease. The research appears in the May 28 print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. 'Due to this association, there was also a link between farming or country living and developing Parkinson's in some of the studies,' said study author Emanuele Cereda of the IRCCS University Hospital San Matteo Foundation in Pavia, Italy. Cereda conducted the research along with Gianni Pezzoli of the Parkinson Institute (ICP) in Milan.

The researchers found that exposure to bug or weed killers and solvents increased the risk of developing Parkinson's disease by 33 to 80 percent. In controlled studies, exposure to the weed killer paraquat or the fungicides maneb and mancozeb was associated with two times increase in the risk of developing the disease, reports Science Daily. 'We didn't study whether the type of exposure, such as whether the compound was inhaled or absorbed through the skin and the method of application, such as spraying or mixing, affected Parkinson's risk,' said Cereda. 'However, our study suggests that the risk increases in a dose response manner as the length of exposure to these chemicals increases,' the researcher added.

What is Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder and affects nerve cells which are responsible for motor functions of the body. Parkinson's patients have difficulty in carrying out movements at a normal speed. Hence, they take longer to perform even normal day-to-day activities. Apart from slowness in their body, Parkinson's patients' limbs tend to be either stiff or shake uncontrollably. Other non-motor symptoms like pain, sleep disturbances, irregular bowel movements, fainting spells, depression, anxiety, fatigue and memory problems also occur. There is no cure for the disease but medications and surgery can provide some relief.

Source: IANS