Critical Analysis on Neurodegenerative Diseases

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Public Health Significance

Public health is a vital health care department that provides information on diseases including prevalence and mortality rates. This aids in preventing and controlling the diseases by providing awareness and effective measures. It involves different studies in order to prevent, control, and eliminate diseases (Orla & Colin, 2011).

Endpoint (disease/injury)

The diseases related to the central nervous system, due to exposure of pesticides, include Parkinson’s and Alzheimer disease. They are degenerative diseases which result to low cognitive performance.

Study purpose

The main objective of the study was to find out the linkage between neurodegenerative diseases in elderly group and cumulative pesticide exposure for long periods.

Key points

Neurodegenerative disease contribute to the rise of mortality rate in United States
The mortality is expected to rise greatly between 1990 and 2040.
Exposure to pesticides is the main cause of rise of the neurodegenerative disease like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer disease
There is no specific dosage of pesticide estimated to cause the disease neither there is a specific type of pesticide.
Only few studies have worked on the link between exposure of pesticides and Alzheimer disease.
Prevalence/Incidence Rates

The incidence rates are rising in the United States. The study shows 24 incidence cases of Parkinson’s disease and 96 cases of Alzheimer. High prevalence was indicated in men than in women.

Relative Risk

Relative risk varied depending on various factors including occupational exposure, rural residency, and the primary role in agriculture. Relative risk of Parkinson’s disease in men with occupational exposure was found to be 6.05% while in women, it was 0.81%. The percentage lowered in other factors. Alzheimer disease relative risk was low compared with Parkinson’s disease (Baldi, 2003). Under occupational exposure 2.86% relative risk was recorded in men and 0.89% in women.

Sample Size Power

The sample involved 1507 people, where women were predominant. The sample used on the study was reliable to give the outcomes.

Information Bias

The information collected from the subjects is not biased since the study involved a face to face interview and the questionnaires which were filled during the interview.

Study population

The study involved elderly people of age 65 years and above from the Paquid study. They included those who were living in an institution or at home in Gironde, southwestern France in 1987. The study took approximately 10 years. Due to the long duration of study some of the subjects died while others refused to be visited. This reduced the initial number of subjects on which the study was carried out. Majority of the subjects had high levels of education hence most of them were employed in blue-collar jobs. The highest subject percentage involved in the study was women who accounted for 61.2 %.

Participant selection

The subjects involved in the study comprised old people aged 65 years and above. They came from Gironde part of southwestern France. Sex and education level were not factors used in selection, but they play a major role in the study.

Selection Bias

The sample included both men and women. However, women were more as compared to men. However, this was not contributed by any favoritism during the selection as it followed certain criteria which included age.

Exposure

Exposure involves coming into contact with a something including chemicals, pesticides, and sun rays. Pesticide exposure however has been indicated to contribute to neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer diseases (Orla & Colin, 2011). The subjects in the study have been exposed to pesticides from the environment or their occupation. According to the study people exposed from their work places are shown to develop the diseases at a higher rate than others.

Study design

The study involved both interviews and questionnaires. The study took a long period and involved regular visits to the subjects’ home. The subjects who were suspected to have Parkinson’s disease were followed up to 10 years. This led to development of another phase.

Statistical analysis

The total number of the subjects that were involved in the study up to the end was 1507 and 78.6 years was the mean age. 21.2 % of the job codes were estimated not have any pesticide exposure. 11.5 % of the subjects recorded been involved with primary agriculture work. Parkinson’s disease incidents in the 5 year and 10 year follow-ups were 24 where 14 were found in women and 10 among men.

Eight Parkinson’s incidents were on subjects who were occupationally exposed while others were not. Association between occupational exposure and Parkinson’s disease was indicated in men. However, the same was not shown in women. Alzheimer disease cases analyzed were 96 during the study period and men were the most affected. The disease occurred in 26 exposed subjects. There was an indication of association between the disease and occupational exposure (Baldi, 2003).

Results

The results obtained were analyzed depending on gender with respect to the environmental and occupational pesticide exposure. The association between the pesticide exposure variable and the diagnosed Parkinson’s or Alzheimer disease cases was also explored. After the results were analyzed, it was clear that there was an association between past occupational pesticide exposure and cognitive performance (Calne, 2008). Men with primary work in agriculture were indicated to be affected more due to the nature of their work, which involved frequent exposure to pesticides. Environmental exposure din not cause any significant effect.

Confounding

The study was carried out to show the relation of nervous system diseases and pesticide exposure. However the study indicates some confounding findings which contradict the study objective. The results shows that after the 5 years follow-up of the subjects the diseases were confirmed more in non-exposed individuals. The results also indicate that women were more affected than men, though there was no association with pesticide exposure. The subjects who were involved with agriculture work indicated low relative risks of the diseases yet they came into contact with pesticides more frequent and more direct than others.

Comments

Due to the puzzling results the study does not fulfill its purpose as the results obtained do not agree with the study objectives. This contradicts the study indicating there are other underlying factors responsible for the development of the diseases (Calne, 2008). Furthermore the mortality rates are indicated to have increased in United States yet the study is carried out in France hence irrelevant. People involved with agriculture work are expected to be the most affected due to the high frequency rates of exposure. This is because they use pesticides more than any other group. However this is contradicted by the study indicating its irrelevance.

Recommendations for future studies

The study should analyze critically the hypothesis developed before any study is carried out. The study should be carried out in a location which favors the hypothesis. A study should take the shortest time possible to avoid possible shortcomings affecting the information collected.

Conclusion

Exposure to pesticide has detrimental effects on people’s health. Despite causing air pollution, pesticide causes health problems like neurodegenerative diseases and cancers. The rate of exposure to pesticides determines the risk of contracting the diseases. The study has effectively reflected on the same, by employing methods that helps to understand.

References

Baldi, I. (2003). Neurodegenerative Diseases and Exposure to Pesticides in the Elderly. American Journal of Epidemiology, 79-84.

Calne, D. B. (2008). Neurodegenerative diseases. Michigan: W.B. Saunders Co.

Orla , H., & Colin, D. P. (2011). Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Clinical Guide. NY: Springer.

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