(PCM) Pesticides may be doing more harm to our bodies – especially our brains – than we ever could have imagined. A new study published in the medical journal Neurology has found that recurring pesticide exposure may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
The large-scale, 14-year observational study asked approximately 3,000 people age 65 and older living in Cache County, Utah – an agricultural region where many people are exposed to pesticides – if they had ever been exposed to pesticides during their work and, if so, which types and for how long. Their cognitive status was measured, and re-assessed again at 3, 7, and 10 years later.
The results? Researchers concluded that the risk for Alzheimer’s disease was 53 percent higher among people exposed to pesticides compared to those who had no pesticide exposure.
What does this mean for the rest of us? Limit your exposure to everyday chemical pesticides around the home. Always exercise proper care and safety when using pesticides, and make sure there is plenty of ventilation when and if you use them. Thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables to decrease your exposure, and buy organic whenever possible.
Not sure what you should buy organic and when it’s okay to skip it? Check out the Dirty Dozen list, which highlights the most contaminated and least contaminated fruits and vegetables.
