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Cited by 93Effects of Radiation ExposureRadiation Dose and ImagingParkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments

Occupational exposure to chronic ionizing radiation increases risk of Parkinson's disease incidence in Russian Mayak workers

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Azizova, Tamara V, Bannikova, Maria V, Grigoryeva, Evgeniya S, Rybkina, Valentina L, Hamada, Nobuyuki·2020·International Journal of Epidemiology
DOI 10.1093/ije/dyz230
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Abstract

Background: Patients receiving radiotherapy demonstrate cognitive deficits, impairment of neurogenesis and neurovascular damage developing as late side effects of radiation exposure to the head. In light of the increasing use of diagnostic radiological procedures, epidemiological data raise concerns about possible harmful effects of low-level radiation on the human brain. A series of studies of chronically exposed Russian nuclear workers have provided information on risks of cancer and non-cancer diseases. Methods: This study aimed to assess the risk of Parkinson’s-disease (PD) incidence in a cohort of workers occupationally exposed to chronic radiation. The cohort comprised workers of a Russian nuclear production facility who were first employed in 1948–1982 and followed up until the end of 2013 (22 377 individuals; 25% female). Using the AMFIT module of EPICURE software, relative risk and excess relative risk per unit dose (ERR/Gy) were calculated based on maximum likelihood. Results: A linear association was found between PD incidence and cumulative γ-dose after adjusting for sex and attained age [ERR/Gy = 1.02 (95% confidence interval, 0.59 to 1.63, p = 5.44 × 10–5)]. The ERR/Gy of external radiation for PD incidence was stable after adjusting for neutron dose (ERR/Gy = 1.03; 95% confidence interval: 0.59 to 1.67, p = 6.86 × 10–5). The risk increased with increasing lag period and decreased notably after adjusting for body mass index, smoking and alcohol consumption. Additional adjustments for hypertension, gout, gastric ulcer, head injuries with loss of awareness and diabetes mellitus did not affect the risk estimate. Conclusions: This study is the first to suggest that PD is associated with prolonged occupational external γ-ray exposure.

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  • CNS risks include in-flight detriments of cognition, such as memory and performance detriments, and late effects including advancement of Alzheimer's disease or increases in Parkinson's disease.

    “CNS risks would include in-flight detriments of cognition, such as memory and performance detriments, and late effects, including advancement of the age of Alzheimer's disease (Liu et al., 2018) or increases in the incidence of Parkinson's disease (Azizova et al., 2020).”

    From A proposed change to astronaut exposures limits is a giant leap backwards for radiation protection (2021) · cites this paper as Azizova et al., 2020

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Authors
Azizova, T. V., Bannikova, M. V., Grigoryeva, E. S., Rybkina, V. L., & Hamada, N.
Affiliations
  • Southern Urals Biophysics Institute (RU)
  • Southern Urals Biophysics Institute (SUBI), Ozyorsk Chelyabinsk Region, Russia
  • Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (JP)
Corresponding author
Azizova, Tamara V
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Epidemiology
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2019-11-13
Volume
49
Issue
2
Pages
435-447
ISSN
  • 0300-5771 (ISSN-L)
  • 1464-3685
DOI
10.1093/ije/dyz230
OpenAlex
W2987470804
Cited by
93
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 6
FWCI
5.29
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model (vor)
Locations
  • International Journal of Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Federal Medical and Biology Agency of Russia
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Effects of Radiation Exposure
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Radiation Dose and Imaging
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
Keywords
Parkinson's disease, occupational radiation exposure, gamma radiation, nuclear workers, cumulative radiation dose, external radiation exposure, neutron dose, low-dose radiation effects, neurodegenerative disease risk
MeSH terms
Female, Humans, Male, Occupational Diseases, Parkinson Disease, Radiation, Ionizing, Russia, Incidence, Occupational Exposure, Risk Assessment, Nuclear Power Plants

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