Living in the Country Could Increase Risk of Parkinson's Disease by 80 Percent

A little life in the country might sound like a great way to get some much needed rest and relaxation if you're used to the city streets. However, a new study suggests that living in the country may put some at a greater risk for Parkinson's disease.

In an analysis of more than 100 studies from around the world, statistics show that exposure to pesticides, bug and weed killers, including solvents, can be associated with a higher risk of development for the disease.

"Due to this association, there was also a link between farming or country living and developing Parkinson's in some of the studies," said study author, Dr Emanuele Cereda.

Researchers from the IRCCS University Hospital San Matteo Foundation in Pavia, Italy, reviewed studies that looked at weed, fungus, rodent or bug killers, and solvents in relation to the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.

Close proximity to chemicals may be related to the problem, which can be seen in country living, occupation and drinking water in certain areas. 

The study showed that being exposed to bug or weed killers and solvents increased the risk of developing Parkinson's disease by 33 to 80 percent.

In controlled studies, exposure to the weed killer paraquat or the fungicides maneb and mancozeb was associated with twice the risk of developing the disease.

"We didn't study whether the type of exposure, such as whether the compound was inhaled or absorbed through the skin and the method of application, such as spraying or mixing, affected Parkinson's risk," Cereda said, according to a press release."However, our study suggests that the risk increases in a dose response manner as the length of exposure to these chemicals increases."

Parkinson's Disease is a chronic neurological disorder, characterized by a deficiency of  dopamine. The problem changes the brain's muscle movements in different areas of the body, which mainly develop in those over 50. 

About 5 in 1,000 people in their 60s, and about 40 in 1,000 people in their 80s have the condition.

The main symptoms showcase problems including sloweness in movement, stiffness of muscles and shaking. Unforutnately, they tend to worsen slowly and at this time, there is no cure for the problem. 

The research appears in the journal Neurology.