- Lead exposure, inactivity linked to Alzheimer's
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- Excerpts
from the Environment News Service, May 4, 2000 Edition
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Exposure to lead at work may put people more at risk of Alzheimer's disease, as may
watching too much television, researchers said on Wednesday.
People who have worked in jobs with high levels of lead exposure are
up to 3.4 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, an incurable and fatal
degeneration of the brain that causes dementia, the researchers told a meeting of the
American Academy of Neurology in San Diego. Lead causes brain damage, and strict controls have been placed on
lead in paint and in gasoline because of it. But most concerns have centered on its
effects in children.
"Lead exposure remains a major public concern because of its
adverse effects on brain development and health in general, even with low exposure
levels," Elisabeth Koss of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, said
in a statement. "This study suggests that we also need to be concerned because
of very long-lasting changes to the nervous system that may increase the risk for
Alzheimer's disease."
Work exposure studied
Her team looked at the work histories of 185 people with Alzheimer's
disease and 303 people without it. They looked at each person's possible exposure at work
to not only lead, but aluminum, copper, iron, mercury, zinc and solvents such as paint
thinners, cleaning fluids and benzene.
Previous research has suggested possible links between Alzheimer's,
aluminum and solvents, but Koss said her team found that only exposure to lead increased
the risk.
"Although lead has long been known to be toxic -- and is
believed to have affected the brains of some of the rulers of the Roman Empire, thereby
causing its downfall -- its long-term damages are difficult to measure, and thus, the
extent of its negative effects have been largely overlooked," Koss said.
People are usually exposed to lead at work when they breathe lead
dust or by direct skin contact. Workers who cast or smelt lead, who do welding, sandblasting or
removal of old paint, or who work with lead products, such as machining them, making
batteries, ammunition, pottery, paint or ink, are most at risk of lead exposure.
Activity reduces risk
A second study presented at the same meeting found that people who
are physically active or who play games or music have a lower risk of Alzheimer's.
Dr. Robert Friedland, a neurologist at Case Western Reserve
University School of Medicine, found that people who play a musical instrument, garden,
exercise or even play board games are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease.
"People who were less active were more than three times more
likely to have Alzheimer's disease as compared to those who were more active," he
said in a statement.
Watching TV did not count, he stressed.
His team questioned 193 people with Alzheimer's disease, with a mean
age of 73, and 358 healthy people of similar ages. Those who did not have Alzheimer's were more likely to have been
active in some way between the ages of 40 and 60 than the patients with Alzheimer's.
Friedland's team took into account age, income, gender and education.
And it only takes a little, Friedland said.
"We believe public health measures should be instituted to
enhance adult participation in physical and mental activities, and decrease participation
in activities that involve little physical or intellectual stimulation, such as
television," Friedland said. |