The place we live, with its pollution and noise levels, can influence the development of Parkinson’s disease.
How the air we breathe affects Parkinson’s disease
Life in urban areas, often hectic and chaotic, brings with it two unwelcome companions: air pollution and traffic noise. In recent years, the scientific community has begun to closely examine the possible link between these environmental factors and the increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.
A study conducted by Utrecht University and published in Environmental Epidemiology involved over 50,000 people across Europe, analyzing exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), fine particulate matter PM2.5, and road traffic noise levels. The results are clear: for every increase of 10 µg/m³ of NO₂, the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease increases by 26%, while a 10 dB increase in noise—especially at night—corresponds to a 15% increase in risk.
These data reinforce the idea that environmental factors, along with genetics and lifestyle, can influence the onset of the disease, exacerbating already complex symptoms such as walking difficulties and sleep disturbances.
The Italian case: the Molise study
In Italy, the link between pollution and Parkinson’s has also been investigated. The Moli-sani study, promoted by IRCCS Neuromed as part of the Age-It – Spoke 3 program, tracked over 24,000 people over the age of 35 living in Molise for a span of 12 years (from 2006 to 2018). Researchers monitored exposure to various pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides, ozone, and PM10.
The results showed that areas with higher levels of air pollution recorded a greater incidence of the disease. In particular, fine particulate matter stands out as one of the main risk factors. This Italian study, led by Dr. Licia Iacoviello, Director of the Epidemiology and Prevention Unit at Neuromed, highlights how the environment can influence Parkinson’s symptoms and underscores the need for greater prevention efforts to reduce patients’ exposure to these pollutants.
Traffic noise and Parkinson’s: an emerging link
Traffic noise is more than a simple nuisance. According to the previously mentioned study by the Dutch university in 2023, prolonged exposure to traffic noise may increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The risk rises during nighttime, when sleep is disrupted, potentially affecting motor control and cognitive functions.
This finding also brings to light an issue of environmental justice: people living in highly trafficked areas—often less privileged neighborhoods—are exposed to greater risks and, in some cases, also have less access to timely diagnosis and targeted therapies.
The benefits of contact with nature
While pollution and noise represent real threats, nature on the other hand offers a healthy escape. A 2022 U.S. study published in JAMA and shared by the Italian Society of Neurology highlighted how exposure to natural environments can reduce hospitalization risk in Parkinson’s patients.
The NDVI index, which measures the percentage of green areas and blue spaces in relation to population density, showed a 6% decrease in hospitalization risk among people living with the disease.
Professor Alfredo Berardelli, President of the Italian Society of Neurology, commented: “Until now, data on the effectiveness of exposure to so-called green spaces in protecting against various neurological conditions were conflicting, but several recent studies have shown that these environments exert a true therapeutic effect.”
Moving in nature: a remedy for Parkinson’s
Spending time outdoors, walking in good company and in contact with nature, thus becomes an act of care that can make a real difference for those living with the disease. Not only for emotional well-being, but also to counteract movement problems in Parkinson’s disease, such as freezing and loss of balance.
Therapies such as Gondola’s AMPS, which act directly on motor circuits through sensory stimulation, can restore safety and stability. This allows patients to rediscover the joy of moving in nature, facing walks with more peace of mind and less fear of falling.
In a context where air pollution and road noise present a real risk, even just a few hours spent in a healthier environment can improve the quality of life for those with Parkinson’s. Not only psychologically, but neurologically as well.
Sources:
Traffic-related air pollution, road traffic noise, and Parkinson’s disease: Evaluations in two Dutch cohort studies, 2023.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38912395/
Parkinson and air pollution, confirmed correlation, 2024.
https://www.corriere.it/salute/neuroscienze/24_settembre_25/parkinson-e-inquinamento-atmosferico-confermata-la-correlazione-5baefb95-72c2-4d00-9f28-29be0d52dxlk.shtml
An Italian study shows a relationship between pollution and Parkinson’s disease, 2025.
https://www.sanitainformazione.it/one-health/uno-studio-italiano-mostra-una-relazione-tra-inquinamento-e-parkinson/#:~:text=Dalla%20ricerca%20%C3%A8%20emerso%2C%20in,informazioni%20contenute%20nei%20database%20sanitari
Epilepsy and hearing loss as early predictive factors of Parkinson’s disease, 2022.
https://neurologiaitaliana.it/2022/epilessia-e-perdita-di-udito-come-fattori-predittivi-precoci-di-parkinson/#:~:text=L’insorgenza%20della%20malattia%20di,College%20di%20Londra%20e%20colleghi.
Parkinson: exposure to natural environments can reduce the risk of hospitalization, 2023.
https://www.osservatoriomalattierare.it/malattia-di-parkinson/19711-parkinson-l-esposizione-ad-ambienti-naturali-puo-ridurre-il-rischio-di-ospedalizzazioni#:~:text=L’indice%20NDVI%20(che%20valuta,un%20calo%20del%20rischio%20di
Associations of Greenness, Parks, and Blue Space With Neurodegenerative Disease Hospitalizations Among Older US Adults, 2022
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2799727
