Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and nerve-damaging condition, with older adults more likely to be affected. A focus of recent research was how Parkinson’s disease risk was associated with groundwater.
A new study , whose results will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting on April 18-22, 2026, in Chicago and online, found that the age of water as well as the water source may affect risk for Parkinson’s disease . Ultimately, some water may be more likely to be exposed to neurotoxins than others, and more research will be required to dig into specifics and how this can be prevented.
This study was a population-based case-control study. It included 12,370 participants with Parkinson’s disease as well as over 1.2 million matched controls.
Participants lived within a three-mile radius of over 1,000 groundwater sample sites. Researchers looked at the age of groundwater, drinking water sources, and aquifer types.
They used these to indirectly look at exposure to neurotoxins. According to the U.S.
Geological Survey, aquifers are water-bearing rocks that can easily transmit water to springs and wells.
Medical News Today published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 12 Mar 2026.
The item focuses on Water sources may affect Parkinson's disease risk: What to know.
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