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Research on Parkinson’s is revealing several risk factors related to our lifestyles and environment, and you can act on some of them.
by Meeri Kim for the Washington Post
Parkinson’s disease, once considered relatively rare, is now one of the most common neurological disorders in the world, and the second most common after Alzheimer’s disease. The number of people living with Parkinson’s has more than doubled in the past 25 years to 8.5 million, and is predicted to hit 25.2 million by 2050.
The hallmark symptoms of Parkinson’s — such as tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination — result from the deterioration of neurons in the basal ganglia, an area of the brain that controls movement. While 10 to 15 percent of cases are linked to inherited genetic mutations, the rest are considered “sporadic,” with no known cause.
Although treatments are available that can manage symptoms, there is no cure or therapy that can slow disease progression. But ongoing research on Parkinson’s is revealing several risk factors related to our lifestyles and environment, some of which are actionable.
Drink coffee or tea: Both coffee and tea consumption have been linked to a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, at least in part because of their caffeine content.
Be careful about dry-cleaning: Trichloroethylene (TCE), an industrial solvent long used in dry-cleaning, degreasing and furniture care, is considered a carcinogen. A growing body of evidence is beginning to reveal that exposure to high levels of TCE such as in contaminated drinking water — as well as a closely related chemical called perchloroethylene (PCE) — may increase the risk of Parkinson’s.
Avoid pesticides: Numerous studies have linked exposure to high levels of pesticides to Parkinson’s disease. A 2011 study reported that combined exposure to the pesticides ziram, maneb and paraquat in workplaces in a heavily agricultural region of California increased the risk of Parkinson’s threefold.
Consider using a water filter: Drinking water can be a source of pesticides and industrial chemicals such as TCE. Research has demonstrated that home water filters with activated carbon and reverse osmosis are highly efficient for pesticide removal.
