Parkinson’s disease is a brain illness that gets worse over time. It affects how people move and can make them shake, move slowly, and lose their balance. It also makes their muscles stiff.
Some people may have trouble speaking or writing. Some can’t smell things, have trouble sleeping, or feel very sad. We don’t know exactly why people get Parkinson’s disease.
It may be because of their genes or things in their environment. Old age, having a family member with the disease, being exposed to harmful chemicals, or having a head injury can all increase the chances of getting Parkinson’s.
A Worrying Chemical: TCE
TCE is a chemical that is used for many things. It is used to clean metal parts, take caffeine out of coffee, and clean clothes without water.
We’ve known since 1969 that it might cause problems similar to Parkinson’s. In fact, some people who worked with TCE ended up getting Parkinson’s disease.
A recent study showed that people exposed to TCE were six times more likely to get Parkinson’s disease. And TCE isn’t just found at work. It can also be in the air outside, in drinking water, and in the air inside buildings.
This happens when TCE evaporates from the soil or water and enters the air. It can get inside houses, offices, or schools and people may not even know it’s there. But there hasn’t been a lot of research on how TCE might be linked to Parkinson’s disease.
Exploring the TCE-Parkinson’s Connection
The researchers wanted to know more about this possible link. So, they looked at other research papers and seven cases where people had been exposed to TCE.
They suggested that TCE might be one of the reasons why more people are getting Parkinson’s disease around the world.
They think that if we can stop people from being exposed to TCE, we might be able to prevent some cases of Parkinson’s disease. But, they say we need more research to know for sure how much TCE affects Parkinson’s disease.
Living with Parkinson’s and Limiting TCE Exposure
There’s no cure for Parkinson’s disease right now. But there are ways to make life better for people who have it. There are medicines that can help control the symptoms.
Physical therapy and exercise can also help. Making healthy lifestyle changes, like eating well, exercising regularly, managing stress, and avoiding harmful chemicals, can also help.
Support groups and counseling can be good for people with Parkinson’s and their families.
The researchers think it’s very important to reduce exposure to TCE. We need better ways to keep our environment and workplaces free from TCE.
The team of researchers, led by Dorsey Ray, published their work in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease. Their research adds to what we know about how our environment might contribute to Parkinson’s disease.
It shows why it’s important to keep studying this and working on ways to reduce people’s risk of getting Parkinson’s disease.
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 disease.
For more information about brain health, 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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