Pesticide exposure and cognitive function: Results from the Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet (HELIAD)

Efthimios Dardiotis; Vasileios Siokas; Sotiria Moza; Mary H Kosmidis; Christina Vogiatzi; Athina-Maria Aloizou; Nikoletta Geronikola; Eva Ntanasi; Ioannis Zalonis; Mary Yannakoulia; Nikolaos Scarmeas; Georgios M Hadjigeorgiou

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2019.108632

Pesticide exposure and cognitive function: Results from the Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet (HELIAD)

Environ Res. 2019 Oct:177:108632. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108632. Epub 2019 Aug 13.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, University of Thessaly, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece.
² Lab of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
³ Athens Association of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, Athens Day Care Center, Athens, Greece.
⁴ 1st Department of Neurology, Aiginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Greece; Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
⁵ 1st Department of Neurology, Aiginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Greece.
⁶ Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
⁷ 1st Department of Neurology, Aiginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Greece; Taub Institute for Research in Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, USA.
⁸ Department of Neurology, Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus. Electronic address: hadjigeorgiou.georgios@ucy.ac.cy.

PMID: 31434017
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108632

Abstract

Background: Results from studies to date, regarding the role of chronic pesticide exposure on cognitive function remain contradictory.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between self-reported pesticide exposure and cognitive function.

Methods: Data from a population-based cohort study of older adults (HEllenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet) in Greece was used. Pesticide exposure classification was based on 1) living in areas that were being sprayed; 2) application of spray insecticides/pesticides in their gardens; and 3) occupational application of sprays. Associations between z-scores of cognitive performance and self-reported pesticide exposure were examined with linear regression analyses. Adjusted models were applied, for all analyses.

Results: Non-demented individuals who reported that they had been living in areas near sprayed fields, had poorer neuropsychological performance, compared to those who had never lived in such areas. Sub-analyses revealed poorer performance in language, executive and visual-spatial functioning, and attention. These associations remained after a sensitivity analysis excluding subjects with mild cognitive impairment.

Conclusion: Self-reported exposure to pesticides was negatively associated with cognitive performance.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Cognitive function; Dementia; Environmental risk factors; Self-reported pesticide exposure.

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cognition*
Cohort Studies
Diet
Environmental Exposure / adverse effects*
Female
Gardens
Greece
Humans
Male
Neuropsychological Tests
Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
Pesticides / adverse effects*

Substances

Pesticides