A new study has linked DDT exposure with Alzheimer's disease, or AD. The study, which was published in “JAMA Neurology,” revealed that four out of five Alzheimer’s patients have been exposed to this dangerous pesticide.
Although now banned in the U.S., this pesticide was once widely used and continues to be used in some foreign countries today. From 1940 to 1972, it played a critical role in controlling the mosquito population and reducing the risk of malaria. In the late 1960s, researchers began to raise concerns about potentially deadly effects of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane on wildlife. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, or DDT, is broken down by the body and changed to a similar chemical called DDE. DDE levels were four times higher in those who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Unfortunately, even today people can be exposed through the environment and may have high levels of DDE due to eating contaminated dairy products, fish or meat. Although the chemical cannot yet definitively be said to cause dementia, the link is strong. Those who had high levels of exposure were more likely to perform poorly on memory and reasoning tests. The presence of a mutation in certain genes was also associated with an increased risk.
AD affects more than 5 million Americans, is the most common form of dementia and is the sixth leading cause of death in the country. The cause is not yet known, but researchers have linked it to plaque that develops in the brain and interferes with nerve impulses. This can trigger inflammation in the brain and throughout the body. The incidence of AD is only expected to increase as the population ages.
Further studies are needed to strengthen the link between AD and the presence of DDE, and scientists continue searching for the causes of this deadly, devastating disease. There is no cure, but even if you have been exposed to this or other chemicals, you can reduce your risk.
Because high blood cholesterol may possibly also increase your risk, lifestyle changes can help strengthen your body and may play a critical role in prevention. Exercise regularly and moderately, avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol and eat a balanced diet that is limited in processed foods and rich in whole grains, vegetables and fruits. Regular visits with your doctor can help you stay on track and may even identify early signs of the cognitive decline that is the hallmark of dementia.