Objective: Focus on epidemiologic data for environmental agents as potential risk factors throw our experience in third level hospital of Marrakesh Morocco.

Background: This multidisciplinary study brings clinicians, biologists and biochemists together in order to clearly demonstrate the existence of an association between Parkinson disease and environmental exposures in southern Morocco. The authors highlight the frequency and severity of toxic exposures to heavy metals, particularly manganese.

Method: Our prospective study covered the period between February 2005 and October 2009 , include population with variable activities (miners, workers and residents ) of 2 rural community (Kettara and Imini) located in south of Morocco, as well as patients followed for PD at the Neurology Department of the University Hospital Mohammed VI, Morocco. An epidemiological, clinical and toxicological studies of the blood, was performed on 120 subjects divided into four groups (G1: 30 exposed and sick, G2: 30 non-exposed and not sick, G3: 30 exposed and not sick and G4: 30 non-exposed and sick) in order to demonstrate the relation between Environmental toxicants and Parkinson’s disease in south of Morocco.

Results: The study includes 3 parameters: the neurological examination; a toxicological study in blood as well as a toxicological study of the environment. The results noted on the first site (Imini) show that 5,7% of the population presents a Parkinson’s syndrome; on the level of the 2nd site (Kettara), the percentage is about 4.5%. Biochemical samples showed a high rate of heavy metals on the various biologic samples and the environment. Manganese was the more represented. The majority of patients did not improve the clinical signs under L-dopa.

Conclusion: Until now, no single environmental agent or class of agents has been conclusively demonstrated epidemiologically to increase PD risk. This study will contribute to our understanding of the association between PD and environmental exposures such as heavy metals, pesticides, and solvents.

« Back to 2019 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/environmental-toxicants-and-parkinsons-disease-in-south-of-morocco/