Khaberni - A recent Chinese study indicates that exposure to loud noise for just one hour daily can exacerbate Parkinson's disease symptoms.
According to "Daily Mail," researchers conducted laboratory experiments on genetically modified mice at the early stages of Parkinson's disease, and the experiment revealed that an area in the brain called the ventral tegmental area, responsible for processing sound and a dopamine-producing area, suffers severe damage in Parkinson's disease.
Dopamine and Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson’s disease, or tremor palsy, is an advanced neurological disorder resulting from the death of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain.
In the experiment, mice exposed to noise developed Parkinson's disease, but symptoms have not yet appeared on them.
The Role of Environmental Factors
Experts believe that environmental factors may be partly responsible for the increased rate of Parkinson's disease.
For example, researchers in Minnesota found that exposure to PM2.5 pollution particles increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease by 36%.
Meanwhile, another study published earlier this year found that consuming at least 11 servings of ultra-processed foods daily increases the risk of early Parkinson's symptoms through the damage of dopamine-producing neurons.
How is Parkinson's Treated?
There is no cure for Parkinson's disease, but medication and other treatments can help compensate for the lost dopamine and reduce symptoms.
Levodopa, the most common drug, crosses the blood-brain barrier to transform into dopamine, controlling issues of balance and tremor.
