Research Reveals 56% Higher Parkinson's Risk Due to Air Pollution

New Delhi, 3 Nov, (VNI) : Recent research conducted in the United States has unveiled a concerning correlation between moderate levels of fine particulate pollution and a 56 percent elevated risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
Led by Brittany Krzyzanowski from the Barrow Neurological Institute in Arizona, this study sheds light on the potential connection between air pollution and this debilitating neurodegenerative disorder.
The researchers also highlighted intriguing regional disparities in this relationship, offering crucial insights into the role of environmental toxins in the development of Parkinson's disease.
Previous research had already indicated that fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, can trigger brain inflammation, a mechanism associated with the onset of Parkinson's disease.
Krzyzanowski and her team aimed to delve deeper into this connection, understanding the extent of the risk and its geographic distribution.
Geographic variation and data sources: To conduct their study, the researchers identified nearly 90,000 Parkinson's disease patients within the extensive Medicare dataset, which encompasses approximately 22 million individuals across the United States.
These patients were then geocoded to their residential neighborhoods, enabling the researchers to analyze disease rates in different regions.
Additionally, the average annual concentrations of fine particulate matter in these specific areas were calculated, providing a crucial dataset for their analysis.
Regional Disparities in Parkinson's Disease: The study uncovered regional disparities in the prevalence of Parkinson's disease.
The Mississippi-Ohio River Valley emerged as a hotspot for the disease, with other areas such as central North Dakota, parts of Texas, Kansas, eastern Michigan, and sections of Florida also showing higher risks.
In contrast, individuals living in the western half of the United States were found to have a reduced risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
Krzyzanowski highlighted the possibility that regional differences in Parkinson's disease may be linked to variations in the composition of fine particulate matter.
Certain areas may have particulate matter with more toxic components, such as combustion particles from traffic and heavy metals from manufacturing.
These elements have previously been associated with cell death in the brain regions involved in Parkinson's disease.