A new study has suggested that type of water a person drinks may lead them to have higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease...READ FULL; FROM THE SOURCE.
Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative condition that primarily affects the central nervous system. It occurs when nerve cells in certain parts of the brain gradually weaken, become damaged, and die.
The condition can lead to symptoms such as tremors, stiffness, slowed movement, and impaired balance.
The study, published by the American Academy of Neurology, examined groundwater age, aquifer type, and drinking water sources as potential indicators of exposure to neurotoxic contaminants.
An aquifer is an underground layer of rock, gravel, sand, or silt where rainwater and snowmelt collect after seeping through the soil. These natural reservoirs filter and store groundwater until it is brought to the surface through wells for drinking, irrigation, and industrial use.
To evaluate the potential link, the researchers reviewed data from 12,370 individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and more than 1.2 million people without the condition, all residing within three miles of designated groundwater monitoring locations across 21 major US aquifers.
Among those diagnosed with Parkinson’s, 3,463 relied on water sourced from carbonate aquifers, 515 from glacial aquifers, and 8,392 from other aquifer types.
In comparison, 300,264 people without Parkinson’s disease sourced their drinking water from carbonate aquifers, 62,917 from glacial aquifers, and 860,993 from other types of aquifers.
Carbonate aquifers, the most common in the United States, are primarily made up of limestone, with water stored in cracks and fissures within the rock.
Glacial aquifers, formed by glacier activity more than 12,000 years ago, consist mainly of sand and gravel, with water held in the spaces between the particles.
After adjusting for factors such as age, sex, income, and air pollution, the study found that individuals who relied on municipal or private wells drawing from carbonate aquifers had a 24% greater risk of developing Parkinson’s disease compared to those using other aquifer types.
The risk was 62% higher when compared specifically to people who drank water from glacial aquifers.
The researchers also reported that newer groundwater, less than 75 years old, in carbonate systems was linked to 11% increased risk of Parkinson’s compared to much older groundwater dating back more than 12,000 years to the Ice Age.
Brittany Krzyzanowski, who led the research, explained why this might be the case. She noted that newer groundwater is more exposed to pollutants from the surface, while older water is often deeper and better shielded by layers of rock.
“Newer groundwater, created by precipitation that has fallen within the past 70 to 75 years, has been exposed to more pollutants,” she said.
“Older groundwater typically contains fewer contaminants because it is generally deeper and better shielded from surface contaminants. Our study found that groundwater age and location is a potential environmental risk factor of Parkinson’s disease.”
She elaborated on the differences between aquifer types, stating that the “protective effect” of older water is most visible in carbonate aquifers because there is a stark contrast between the vulnerable new water and the shielded old water.
“We speculate that the apparent protective effect of older groundwater is seen mainly in carbonate aquifers because these systems can show a clearer contrast between newer and older water,” Krzyzanowski added.
“In these aquifers, newly recharged groundwater is more vulnerable to surface contamination, while older groundwater can remain cleaner if it is separated from recent inputs by a confining layer.
“In contrast, glacial aquifers tend to slow groundwater movement and naturally filter contaminants as water travels underground. As a result, differences in contamination between newer and older groundwater in these aquifers may be smaller and therefore harder to detect.”
While the findings are significant, Krzyzanowski emphasized that more research is needed to confirm the link and fully understand the relationship between groundwater sources and Parkinson’s disease.
Do you want to easily get our latest news fast? kindly follow our Whats-app Channel via this Link Here Now.
Copyright 2026 Naijacoaded. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from Naijacoaded.
