What causes Parkinson's disease?

What causes Parkinson’s disease?

That’s a question researchers may still be asking many years from now. But recent studies have shed new light on this puzzling dilemma. Recent research from the UK suggests that men who consume large amounts of dairy products may increase their risk of Parkinson’s

Teachers and health care workers are statistically at higher risk of Parkinson’s (probably because they’re exposed to more viruses than the average person)

People who have received multiple concussions are at higher risk of the disease

Farm workers are also at higher risk if frequently exposed to paraquat – a weed killer

This last link has recently gained confirmation from two studies. In the first study, researchers found that animals exposed to paraquat tend to have high levels of alpha-synuclein (a protein) in their brains. Studies show that when this protein builds up in the brain it kills cells that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that’s essential for normal muscle movement.

In the second study, health records for 80,000 people in Iowa and North Carolina were examined. Results showed that farm workers exposed to paraquat were at least twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s. Another pesticide – dieldrin – also increased risk.

Development of Parkinson’s usually occurs many years after the primary exposure to these chemicals.