Pesticide exposure is linked to Parkinson's disease. Image courtesy of santiago nicolau.
Over the past five years several studies have linked pesticide exposure to a greater risk of Parkinson's disease. Now new research confirms and extends these findings demonstrating that more exposure, as well as exposure to additional chemicals, increases risk even further.
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that attacks a group of dopamine neurons in a small part of the brain called the substantia nigra. As the neurons degenerate, the patient loses the ability to initiate motion and can eventually become “frozen” within the body. Other symptoms include shaking, slow movement and other cognitive problems. Both actor Michael J. Fox and boxing champion Muhammad Ali have the disease.
Until recently the cause of Parkinson's was unknown. Recently, however, UCLA professor of epidemiology Dr. Beate Ritz found an increased risk of the disease among people living near farms where pesticides are used. Specifically the research found a link to the pesticides maneb and paraquat.