Pesticide exposure and risk of Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
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ABSTRACT: Evidence suggests that lifelong cumulative exposure to pesticides may generate lasting toxic effects on the central nervous system and contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). A number of reports indicate a potential association between long-term/low-dose pesticide exposure and AD, but the results are inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to clarify this association. Relevant studies were identified according to inclusion criteria. Summary odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using fixed-effects models. A total of seven studies were included in our meta-analysis. A positive association was observed between pesticide exposure and AD (OR?=?1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI]?=?1.08, 1.67; n?=?7). The summary ORs with 95% CIs from the crude and adjusted effect size studies were 1.14 (95% CI?=?0.94, 1.38; n?=?7) and 1.37 (95% CI?=?1.09, 1.71; n?=?5), respectively. The sensitivity analyses of the present meta-analysis did not substantially modify the association between pesticide exposure and AD. Subgroup analyses revealed that high-quality studies tended to show significant relationships. The present meta-analysis suggested a positive association between pesticide exposure and AD, confirming the hypothesis that pesticide exposure is a risk factor for AD. Further high-quality cohort and case-control studies are required to validate a causal relationship.
SUBMITTER: Yan D
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5007474 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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