Study Finds Exposure to Mold may cause symptoms that imitate Parkinson’s disease

November 14, 2013 8:09 am

Mold may cause symptoms that imitate Parkinson’s:  A Rutgers University study by Joan Bennett was recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.  Bennett found that when she exposed fruit flies to chemicals commonly emitted by molds, like 1-octen-3-ol and other volatile organic compounds, they showed signs of tremors, slow movement and imbalance, all common symptoms displayed in Parkinson’s.

According to Bennett’s study, this suggests continuous exposure to mold in enclosed spaces may trigger neurological damage, which is especially concerning considering the rise of severe weather events like Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene and most recently Typhoon Haiyan.

Bennett speculates that perhaps the reason we all find the smell of mold to be offensive is an evolutionary signal that mold is dangerous to our health.