Insecticide DDT linked to Alzheimers disease Insecticide DDT , which was very widely used in agriculture from 1940 to 1970 , may increase the risk of Altzheimer disease , U.S. research suggests . The substance DDT was used against harmful insects in agriculture worldwide from the end of World War II until the 1970s , when it was banned in most places, because they saw that it could damage both the environment and health. The substance has the property that it decomposes very slowly and thus remain in the nature and the body for a long time. A new U.S. study found that patients with Alzheimers disease had much higher levels of DDT residues in the body than healthy people did . Read also: - Alzheimer s patients lack the gene that protects the brain Nearly four times as high levels When DDT decompose are the chemical compound DDE stranded. In the study , 74 of the 86 AD patients who participated , nearly 3.8 times as much DDE in the blood as the 79 participants in the control group who did not have Alzheimers. Alzheimer patients mean age was 74 years . Among patients who had a particular gene variant linked to increased risk of developing Alzheimers disease ( ApoE4 ) , and simultaneously had high levels of DDE , so researchers greater cognitive impairment than in those without this risk gene. Studies of brain cells also showed that DDT and DDE may be associated with higher levels of protein associated with dangerous plaque in the brain, which characterizes the disease. - I believe these results demonstrate that one should devote more attention to potential environmental factors and their interaction with genetic predisposition , says researcher Jason R. Richardson at Rutgers University in a press release . He hopes the research will help make it easier to identify those who are at risk of getting dementia disease and earlier diagnosis and better assistance to those affected. See also: Nobel Laureate mean memory corruption can be repaired From the miracle cure to ban Dr. Jason R. Richardson at Rutgers University in the U.S. is now calling for more research into other risikofaktoerer than genes when it comes to Alzheimers disease. Photo: Rutgers University In the 1940s, the drug was DDT applied against harmful insects in agriculture throughout the world. Unlike older agents were DDT fat soluble. Thus it could penetrate the insects skin, and into the nervous system so that the insects were paralyzed. Insect solvent was very widely used , and it was not considered dangerous to humans. Eventually they saw that the insects were resistant to the drug, which also accumulated in the food chain. This led , among other birds of prey that feed on insect -eating prey , were subjected to severe population reductions because their reproductive ability was impaired . The enormous consumption eventually led to DDT was a global problem . Man worried about the impact on the environment and eventually for the effects on human health. In the 1970s, the drug was banned in many countries. Norway introduced bans in most areas in 1970 and a total ban in 1989 , while the United States banned the drug in 1972. Some countries still use DDT to combat malaria mosquito , a practice that the World Health Organization supports . Read also: - Olive oil prevents Alzheimer - Need more research Alzheimers disease progresses slowly to begin with and affects people in different ways . Memory loss , confusion , disorientation and poor judgment are some of the symptoms of Alzheimers disease. In the brains of people with the disease interferes with protein plaques and neuronal tangles the otherwise orderly communication and coordination between millions of neurons. You do not currently sure what causes Alzheimers, which is the most common dementia disease, but scientists estimate that both genes miiljø and lifestyle can record , explains Jason Richardson . Yet the sounding , most research in this area into the genetic correlations . - This study demonstrates that there are other factors that may contribute to Alzheimers disease, which must be investigated and that may help to find them at risk for developing Alzheimers. - This is important , because when it comes to diagnosing and treating this and other neurodegenerative diseases , as there are several possibilities for the earlier one interviewer , says Richardson in the press release . See also: Five new Alzheimers genes found Dr Simon Ridley , who is head of research at the Alzheimer s Organization Research UK , said it is important to remember that DDT has been banned for many years already. - Although this small study suggests that there is a possible link between DDT and Alzheimers we do not know whether other factors might explain these results , he said to BBC and stressed that much more research is needed to confirm a possible link between the insecticide and disease abcnyheter.no/nyheter/helse/2014/01/28/insektmiddelet-ddt-knyttes-til-alzheimers-sykdom
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 15:35:31 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015