Exposure to pesticides can cause dementia

• April 16, 2024

A study conducted by French researchers from the Institute of Public Health, Epidemiology and Development in Bordeaux, and published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine (Occupational and Environmental Medicine), showed that people exposed to chemical products used in the agricultural sector, are prone to suffer from dementia .

The investigation that involved 614 vineyard workers, in the south of the French country, between 40 and 50 years of age, with less than 20 years of working in that sector; which were followed up on their Intelectual skills . He found that workers who had been exposed to pesticides during their employment in the agricultural sector showed the lowest results.

Researchers measured pesticide exposure levels by classifying workers into four categories: exposure direct , certainly exhibition hint , possibly indirect exposure and not exposed .

On two occasions the workers underwent a series of neurobehavioral tests designed to measure memory and memories, verbal and language abilities and the speed of reactions.

Deterioration

It was found that one in five participants I had never been exposed to pesticides more than half had been directly exposed (those responsible for mixing or applying pesticides, cleaning or repairing the equipment to spray pesticides) and the rest had been exposed indirectly (through contact with plants treated with pesticides) or possibly indirectly exposed (for work in buildings, offices or basements). "As expected, the lowest scores in some or all of the cognitive tests were those of older participants, lower levels of education, those linked to excessive alcohol consumption, depression or drug use." However, they add, when the tests were carried out for the second time, those who had been exposed to pesticides were those who obtained the worst results. "These workers were five times more likely to get the lowest scores in the two series of tests and were twice as likely to register a two-point decrease in the call: mini-mental state test (MPEM), the frequently used test. to determine the stages prior to dementia. " The scientists they believe that this low score in the MPEM "is particularly surprising because of the short time of follow-up and the relatively young age of the participants". The researchers point out, however, that more follow-up studies should be carried out to confirm whether the "slight deterioration" that was observed among workers exposed to pesticides could lead to the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

 Source: BBC World