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        Pesticide exposure and risk of mild cognitive dysfunction

H Bosma, M P J van Boxtel, R W H M Ponds, P J Houx, J Jolles
 
Little is known about the adverse effects of substances, such as pesticides and metals, on the development of mild cognitive  dysfunction (MCD). Cross-sectional and prospective data from the Maastricht Aging Study were used to find out the potential   neurotoxicity of particular substances. Exposure to pesticides, for example by arable farmers and gardeners, was associated with  increased risks of MCD. Exposure to metals and organic solvents was not associated with MCD. Our findings might reflect subtle changes in brain function among people exposed to pesticides.
                       Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht Brain and Behaviour Institute and European Graduate School of  Neuroscience (EURON), Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, Netherlands (H Bosma PhD, M P J van Boxtel PhD, R   W H M Ponds PhD, P J Houx PhD, Prof J Jolles PhD)   Correspondence to: Dr H Bosma, email: h.bosma@np.unimaas.nl 
 
The study is not freely available, just the abstract.......
(One has to subscribe to The Lancet to be able to read even the abstracts)
http://www.thelancet.com/
---------------
 
Friday, 8 September, 2000,
Pesticides 'can cause brain damage'
 
Pesticides can cause problems with speech and thinking
 
Gardeners and farmers who use pesticides are at risk of developing brain
damage, according to a study.
 
Research carried out in The Netherlands suggests people who expose
themselves to pesticides, including those who work with chemicals, over
a long period may suffer from long-term side-effects.
The Maastricht Ageing Study examined the health of 830 people. Of these,
629 had been exposed to pesticides in the course of their work.
 
It found that many had mild cognitive dysfunction (MCD), which meant
they had problems identifying words, colours or numbers and were unable
to speak fluently.
 
(Published in Lancet)
More at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_914000/914556.stm
 

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