Researchers from UCLA Health analyzed data from more than 1,600 individuals to understand how the environment may influence disease risk. The study was published in Molecular Neurodegeneration.
Half of the participants had Parkinson’s disease, while the rest did not.
By comparing residential addresses with pesticide usage records, the researchers estimated how much participants may have been exposed to specific substances over time.
This provides a more accurate picture of long-term exposure.
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Laboratory experiments
To understand what happens in the body, the researchers also conducted experiments on animals.
They observed that exposure to pesticide residues could lead to movement problems and damage to nerve cells that are essential for body movement.
They also found an accumulation of harmful proteins in the brain, along with signs of inflammation.
Additionally, the experiments showed that the cells’ ability to clear waste products was impaired.
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The role of the environment in the development of Parkinson’s
Pesticides are still widely used in many parts of the world, even though some have been restricted. It is therefore important to understand how they affect human health.
The research suggests that environmental factors may play a greater role in the development of disease than previously believed.
This could have implications for both prevention and the monitoring of at-risk individuals.
According to the study, people who have been exposed over a longer period to the pesticide chlorpyrifos in their local environment have more than 2.5 times the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease compared with individuals with low or no exposure.
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Sources: Science Daily, and Molecular Neurodegeneration.
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