ALDH2 Gene Variant Increases Parkinson's Risk from Pesticides
 

Researchers say they've identified a number of common pesticides that increase the risk of Parkinson's disease, and that they've also discovered that people's genes can affect their level of risk.

In a previous study, the University of California, Los Angeles team found that exposure to a banned pesticide called benomyl increases the risk of Parkinson's. In this new study, the researchers said they identified 11 other pesticides that increase that risk.

The pesticides inhibit an enzyme called "aldehyde dehydrogenase" (ALDH). It converts compounds called aldehydes -- which are highly toxic to brain cells that produce a chemical called dopamine -- into less harmful compounds.

The UCLA researchers also found that people with a common variant of the ALDH2 gene are particularly vulnerable to these ALDH-inhibiting pesticides, according to a university news release. People with the variant are two to six times more likely to develop Parkinson's than those without the variant when exposed to the pesticides.

"These pesticides are pretty ubiquitous, and can be found in our food supply and are used in parks and golf courses and in pest control inside buildings and homes. So, this significantly broadens the number of people at risk," he added.

Although the study found an association between exposure to certain pesticides and higher risk of Parkinson's disease, it did not establish a cause-and-effect relationship.

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