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(Midwest) -- Several Midwestern states, including Nebraska and Kansas, have among the highest rates of Parkinson’s disease in the U.S.
"Just because you’re exposed to pesticides, industrial chemicals, or other toxins doesn’t mean you’ll develop Parkinson’s disease,” said Dr. Howard Gendelman of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “It’s a complex, interwoven series of events involving genetics, age, and environment.”
A new study by Epic Research shows the number of Parkinson's diagnoses per 100,000 people in all 50 U.S. states. Nebraska ranks first with 620 diagnoses per 100,000 people, followed by Kansas with 596. Iowa falls significantly below both states, with 372 cases per 100,000.
Experts say Nebraska’s numbers may appear higher in part because the state was one of the first in the nation to begin tracking Parkinson’s cases.
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement.
While the exact cause of Parkinson’s is unknown, researchers believe it results from a combination of genetic factors and environmental exposures, including pesticides.
Dr. Gendelman says the biggest risk factor for developing Parkinson’s is age.