A CASE-CONTROL STUDY ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL RISK-FACTORS OF PARKINSONS-DISEASE IN TIANJIN, CHINA

Using a case-control method, we studied the role of environmental risk factors and viral infection in the development of Parkinson's disease (PD) in China. Ninety-three PD patients and 186 controls were investi gated with a questionnaire and from most of them, blood was taken to t est the antibody levels of four virus (measles, rubella, HSV-1, CMV) I gG. The study result showed that positive family history, living near rubber plants, drinking river-water were associated with an increased risk of developing PD. In contrast, living in small cities, drinking w ell-water, drinking hard-liquor frequently, were associated with a dec reased risk for PD. PD cases and controls did not differ with respect to other factors investigated including smoking and viral infection. T hese findings suggest that some environmental factors may be related t o the development of PD, but further standardized studies will be requ ired to confirm our results.