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# Risk factors for dementia like Alzheimer's, Parkinson disease
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/dementia_alzheimer_s_parkinson_disease_0920120729/
- Published: 2012-09-20T20:27:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:09:21.000Z
- Description: A review in Neurologia finds strong evidence tying pesticide exposure, hypertension, high cholesterol, high homocysteine, smoking, head injury and depression to Alzheimer's disease, and pesticides to Parkinson disease, with weaker evidence for aluminium, diabetes and midlife obesity.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Environment, Health News, #vivvo-import

By Jimmy Downs

Thursday Sept 20, 2012 ([foodconsumer.org](http://www.foodconsumer.org/)) -- Many environmental risk factors are linked to dementia like Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson disease. Exposure to pesticides, hypertension, high cholesterol, high homocysteine, smoking traumatic brain injury and depression can increase risk for Alzheimer's disease while exposure to pesticides may increase risk for Parkinson disease, according to a new review published in Neurologia.

Campdelacreu J. of Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, España conducted the review and found strong evidence that shows the associations between dementia like Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson disease, and environmental risk factors.

Weak evidence suggests that high milk consumption in men, high iron intake such as eating red meat, chronic anaemia and traumatic brain injury such as in professional football players may increase risk of Parkinson disease, which is one type of dementia.

Weak evidence also suggests that what can increase risk of Alzheimer's disease, another type of dementia include high aluminium intake through drinking water, excessive exposure to electromagnetic fields from electrical grids, diabetes mellitus and hyperinsulinaemia, middle-age obesity, excessive alcohol drinking (alcohol makes the brain smaller).

What may reduce the risk of Parkinson disease include hyoeruricaemia, tobacco and coffee use whereas what may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease include moderate alcohol consumption, physical exercise, perimenopausal hormone replacement therapy and good cognitive reserve.

It should be noted that alcohol beverages are recognized human carcinogens, hormone replacement therapy increases risk of heart disease and breast cancer and aluminum can be present not only in drinking water, but also in foods due to the use of aluminum additives in processed foods. No one may want to pursue these measures to reduce risk of dementia.

Although weak, evidence also suggests that vitamin E intake, alcohol, tea, NSAIDs and vigorous physical exercise may lower risk of Parkinson disease while Mediterranean diet, coffee, and habitual use of NSAIDs may reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Dementia includes a group of disorders including but not limited to Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson disease caused by environmental risk factors that affect the brain. 

People with dementia may not be able to think well enough to conduct normal activities, such as getting dressed or eating. They may eventually lose their ability to solve problems or control their emotions, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.