Prolonged Exposure to Road Traffic Noise May Increase Risk of Parkinson’s Disease, New Study Suggests

Prolonged Exposure to Road Traffic Noise May Increase Risk of Parkinson’s Disease, New Study Suggests https://ift.tt/Pn0I5TJ

Researchers analyzed data from over 3 million participants to study the link between traffic noise and Parkinson’s disease

A stock image of busy traffic.
Credit: Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Researchers analyzed data from over 3 million Danish participants to study the link between traffic noise and Parkinson’s disease
• Higher traffic noise levels were linked to increased Parkinson’s risk, while quieter home facades appeared to reduce the risk
• The study suggests chronic noise exposure may be a novel risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s

The risk of Parkinson’s disease may increase with prolonged exposure to road traffic noise, a new study claims.

Parkinson’s disease occurs when the brain cells that make dopamine stop working over time, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It is a progressive condition that affects movement, often starting with tremors, slowness, or stiffness.

To assess the association between Parkinson’s disease and prolonged exposure to road traffic noise, a new study published in JAMA Neurology analyzed data from 3,103,577 Danish participants gathered through national administrative and health registries and the Danish National Health Survey (DNHS).

A stock image of evening traffic in Los Angeles.
Credit: Getty

Researchers examined traffic noise levels at the most- and least-exposed facades (the principal area of a building that looks out onto a street or open space) over 10 years.

In buildings with the most-exposed facades, each 11.5 decibel (dB) increase in road noise accounted for a 3% increase of a person’s risk of developing Parkinson’s.

According to the study, associations were consistent across groups defined by sex, education, income, cohabiting status, and population density.

“Results of this cohort study show that long-term exposure to road traffic noise was associated with higher PD risk,” the researchers wrote. “Having a quiet facade mitigated this association. These findings suggest noise as a novel risk factor for PD and support mitigation strategies ensuring a quiet residential side.”

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The researchers advised people to ensure that their homes have a “quiet side” as it “may be important for reducing the potential neurodegenerative effects of chronic noise exposure.”