Researchers have sounded the alarm over the dangers of loud noise after a new study found that chronic exposure to environmental noise may speed up the development of Parkinson’s disease or worsen its neurological symptoms.
In experiments conducted on mice with early-stage Parkinson’s, scientists exposed them to sounds ranging between 85 and 100 decibels—equivalent to the noise of a lawn mower or household blender—for one hour each day.
The results showed that the mice began to experience slower movement and poor balance after just a few days of repeated exposure, with more severe motor problems appearing within a week.
Further brain analysis revealed that noise activates a region known as the inferior colliculus, which processes sound and connects directly to the substantia nigra, the area responsible for producing dopamine, a chemical crucial for motor control.
Chronic stimulation of this area, the researchers noted, can lead to gradual damage of dopamine-producing neurons, triggering symptoms similar to those seen in advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease.
The study concluded that persistent exposure to environmental noise poses a significant risk factor that may contribute to the progression of neurological disorders like Parkinson’s, emphasizing that reducing daily noise levels could help slow disease development.
Parkinson’s currently affects around one million people in the United States, and the number is expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030, with experts suggesting that pollution and noise are key environmental contributors to the rising global rates.
