World Parkinson's Day: Dry Cleaning Solvents, Air Pollution Linked To Increased Risk Of Parkinson's, Expert Says

Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder characterised by unintended or uncontrollable movements such as shaking, stiffness and difficulty with walking, coordination and balance. 

World Parkinson’s Day is observed every year on April 11 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr James Parkinson, who wrote an essay titled ‘An Essay on the Shaking Palsy’ in 1817, which first recognised Parkinson’s as a medical condition. The day aims to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease, and calls on global leaders, governments and healthcare professionals to take action which will help improve the lives of people with Parkinson’s.

The disease is a brain disorder characterised by unintended or uncontrollable movements such as shaking, stiffness and difficulty with walking, coordination and balance. 

Symptoms of Parkinson's disease

People with Parkinson’s can not only experience difficulty walking, but can also have trouble talking. Parkinson’s patients can also experience mental and behavioural changes, depression, sleep problems, fatigue and memory difficulties, according to the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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Causes of Parkinson's disease

When nerve cells in the basal ganglia, an area of the brain that controls movement, become damaged or die, one may start experiencing the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. These neurons produce an important neurotransmitter called dopamine, which controls body movements. As a result, damage or death of the neurons results in decreased secretion of dopamine, which in turn impairs the body movements. 

Parkinson’s disease mostly affects the elderly, but can also occur in young people.

Enviromental factors linked with increased risk of Parkinson's disease

According to Dr Ritu Jha, HOD & Associate Director, Dept. of Neurology, Sarvodaya Hospital, Sector 8, Faridabad, the exact cause of Parkinson’s disease is not exactly understood, but it is believed to be a combination of factors including genetics and environmental factors. She explained that young people should be careful about the kind of lifestyle they lead because several environmental factors can contribute to Parkinson’s disease.

“While not everyone exposed to these environmental factors will develop Parkinson's disease, reducing one’s exposure to these will help lower the risk,” Dr Jha said.

She said that exposure to certain pesticides and herbicides, dry cleaning solvents, and heavy metals such as lead and mercury, and air pollution are linked to an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Pesticides and herbicides contain chemicals which damage the neurons producing dopamine. Since people in villages are exposed to pesticides and other agricultural chemicals daily, they are at an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

Dr Jha explained that heavy metals such as lead and mercury can accumulate in the brain and lead to oxidative stress, which can damage the neurons producing dopamine. 

Trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene are some of the solvents commonly used in dry cleaning and industrial processes, and can damage the nervous system, increasing the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease, she said.

Exposure to fine particulate matter is a risk factor for Parkinson’s disease because these particles can result in inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain. Traumatic brain injuries, especially those that involve loss of consciousness, are also linked with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease, she said.

Young-onset Parkinson's disease

When the disease develops in people below 50 years of age, it is called young-onset Parkinson’s disease. While it is rare, the disease can be more challenging to diagnose and manage compared to the disease in older adults.

The symptoms of young-onset Parkinson’s disease include involuntary muscle contractions or dystonia, cognitive impairment, and rapid eye movement during sleep, Dr Jha said.

People with young-onset Parkinson’s disease must exercise regularly, consume a healthy diet, and follow stress-reduction techniques to improve overall health and well-being and slow the progression of the disease.

In some cases, young people with Parkinson’s disease may need to undergo deep-brain stimulation (DBS), that implants electrodes into the brain, to improve motor symptoms, reduce medication requirements, and improve the quality of life.