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Parkinson Disease Incidence Linked to Air Pollution in US
Researchers have found an association between Parkinson disease (PD) and air pollution in the United States, with the strongest link in the Rocky Mountain region. Findings were presented at the 2023 American Academy of Neurology annual meeting.
“Numerous studies suggest that environmental exposures play a critical role in PD pathogenesis,” authors wrote in an abstract published ahead of the meeting. “Using state-of-the-art geospatial analytical techniques, we identified a nationwide association between PD and PM2.5, which varied in strength by region.”
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Researchers conducted a geographic study of 22,546,965 Medicare beneficiaries, identifying patients with incident PD in 2009 (83,674). They utilized a multimethod approach, including county-level regression and geographical analyses and individual-level case-control analysis, to assess the relationship between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and PD risk.
Findings revealed a significant association between the average annual PM2.5 and PD incidence, with a PD "hot spot" observed in the Mississippi-Ohio River Valley. Nationwide, the risk of PD increased by 25% when comparing the highest to the lowest quartile of PM2.5 exposure. The association between PM2.5 and PD was strongest in the Rocky Mountain Region. In the Mississippi-Ohio River Valley, although the association was weaker, there appeared to be a ceiling effect at approximately 12 to 19μg/m3 of PM2.5. Individual-level analysis confirmed the 25% increased risk of PD when comparing the highest to the lowest decile of PM2.5 exposure.
“A deeper investigation into the specific subfractions of PM2.5 may provide insight into regional variability in the PM2.5-PD association,” authors concluded.
Reference:
Krzyzanowski B, Nielson S, Racette B, et al. Fine particulate matter and Parkinson disease risk in medicare beneficiaries. February 23, 2023. Presented at the 2023 American Academy of Neurology annual meeting.
