RISK-FACTORS FOR PARKINSONS-DISEASE - CASE-CONTROL STUDY IN THE PROVINCE OF CACERES, SPAIN

This case-control study, performed in a mixed rural and urban province, of 74 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 148 unselected age and sex-matched controls, attempted to look possible risk factors for PD. Rural living, well-water drinking, positive family history for PD and postural tremor, were associated to an increased risk for PD, with results regarding exposure to pesticides near to statistical significance. Alcohol-drinking habit in males were associated to a decreased risk for PD, with results regarding cigarette-smoking habit in males near to statistical significance. We did not find association between the risk for PD and the following variables: 1)exposure to industrial toxins; 2) agricultural work; 3)cranial trauma; 4) previous common illnesses including some infections, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease and thyroid disease; 5) coffee and tea drinking habits.