Organochlorine chemicals and neurodegeneration among elderly subjects in Costa Rica

• Published in: ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH Vol. 134; pp. 205 - 209
• Main Authors: Steenland, K., Mora, A.M., Barr, D.B., Juncos, J., Roman, N., Wesseling, C.
• Format: Journal Article Publication
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.10.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition; Costa Rica; DDE (pesticide); DDT; DDT (pesticide); Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; detection limit; Dieldrin; elderly; Environmental Pollutants - toxicity; Exposure; Female; HCH (pesticide); Humans; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - toxicity; Male; Medical sciences; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Nervous system as a whole; neurodegenerative diseases; Neurodegenerative Diseases - chemically induced; Neurology; Occupational; occupational exposure; Organochlorines; Parkinson׳s disease; Pesticides; Pesticides, fertilizers and other agrochemicals toxicology; regression analysis; Risk; Toxicology; Trends; Central America; America; Costa Rica; ASW, Costa Rica; Cognition; Parkinson׳s disease; Organochlorines; Pesticides; Costa Rica; Human; Nervous system diseases; Insecticide; Parkinson's disease; Toxicity; Chemical compound; Dieldrin; Parkinson disease; Epidemiology; Cerebral disorder; Organochlorine compounds; Central nervous system disease; Degenerative disease; Elderly; Public health; Extrapyramidal syndrome

We previously screened 400 elderly Costa Ricans for neurodegenerative disease. Those reporting occupational pesticide exposure (18%) had an increased Parkinson׳s disease (PD) risk (OR 2.57, 95% CI 0.91–7.26), and worse cognition (Mini-Mental States Exam (MMSE) 24.5 versus 25.9 points, p=0.01). We su...