Scientists from the University of Rochester and several other research centers are warning that a widely used industrial chemical may increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease.
The chemical, called trichloroethylene (TCE), has been used for many years in factories to clean metal parts, in dry cleaning, and even in older methods of removing caffeine from coffee. Although its use has declined in some countries, TCE can still be found in the environment.
Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that slowly becomes worse over time. It affects the nerve cells that produce dopamine, a chemical that helps control movement. As dopamine levels fall, people may develop shaking, stiff muscles, slower movements, poor balance, and trouble walking.
Many people with Parkinson’s also experience symptoms that are not related to movement. They may lose their sense of smell, have trouble sleeping, feel depressed or anxious, and find it difficult to speak or write clearly. Scientists believe the disease develops through a combination of inherited genes and environmental exposures.
TCE has been linked to Parkinson’s disease for decades. Early concerns appeared in 1969, but newer research has provided stronger evidence. Some studies suggest that people exposed to high levels of TCE could have up to five times the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease compared with those who are not exposed.
One reason TCE is especially worrying is that exposure does not only happen in factories. The chemical can leak into soil and underground water. It can then move into the air inside homes, schools, and workplaces, where people may breathe it without knowing because it has no obvious warning signs.
In the latest research, scientists reviewed previous studies and closely examined seven people who had been exposed to TCE before later developing Parkinson’s disease. While these cases cannot prove that TCE directly causes the disease, they add more evidence that the chemical may play an important role.
There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease. Most treatments aim to reduce symptoms by increasing dopamine levels or helping the brain use dopamine more effectively. Physical therapy, regular exercise, and other supportive treatments can also help people stay active and improve their quality of life.
The researchers say reducing exposure to harmful chemicals may be another important step in protecting brain health. Stronger safety rules in workplaces, careful monitoring of contaminated land and water, and cleaning up polluted sites could help lower future risks for communities.
The study also reminds people that environmental health and human health are closely connected. By learning more about chemicals such as TCE, scientists hope to better understand why Parkinson’s disease develops and how more cases might be prevented in the future.
The research was led by Dorsey Ray and colleagues and published in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease. The findings add to growing evidence that environmental exposures may play a much bigger role in Parkinson’s disease than previously understood, although more research is still needed to confirm exactly how TCE affects the brain.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies that Vitamin B may slow down cognitive decline, and Mediterranean diet could help lower risk of Parkinson’s.
For more health information, please see recent studies that blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline, and results showing Plant-based diets could protect cognitive health from air pollution.
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