BERLIN—Populations living in French rural regions that require higher levels of pesticide may be at a greater risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to a study presented at the 20th International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders.
Evidence of a link between pesticides and incidence of Parkinson’s disease through occupational exposure already exists. This study, led by Sofiane Kab, a PhD student in epidemiology at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research in Villejuif, France, and a team of French researchers investigated whether those living in rural French regions with more crops would be at a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease through non-occupational exposure.
The study identified cases of Parkinson’s disease from French National Health Insurance databases from 2010 to 2012 and examined the association between rates of Parkinson’s disease and types of farming. The researchers found higher rates of Parkinson’s disease in rural areas of France, particularly in areas with many vineyards, which require the most intense use of insecticides and fungicides. Ultimately, the data collected suggest that those who live in farming regions requiring high levels of pesticide are at a greater risk of Parkinson’s disease.
Caroline Tanner, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco and Director of the Parkinson’s Disease Research Education and Clinical Center at the San Francisco Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, said, “This current report is the largest study assessing newly diagnosed Parkinson’s disease and inferred pesticide exposures. Because the study is derived from the national health insurance records of France and investigates newly diagnosed (incident) cases, bias is minimized, providing an accurate picture for the entire population. Rural residence alone increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease, suggesting that ambient pesticide exposure is a risk factor. Information on smoking, a recognized risk modifier, was also included, adding to the strength of the study design.” Dr. Tanner added, “The current report strengthens the evidence associating Parkinson’s disease and rural residence and, by inference, pesticide exposure. More detailed investigation in this large population will be critical, and would be expected to identify specific causative pesticides and, in turn, underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms. Ultimately, this work may identify ways to reduce Parkinson’s disease incidence.”