Road traffic noise linked to Parkinson's, but a having quiet side in your house might help

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-07-21 01:00

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Long-term exposure to road traffic noise may increase your risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to Danish research. The study found that living next to noisy roads for 10 years was linked to a higher risk of Parkinson's disease, but the researchers also found that having a quiet facade on your house appeared to remove this increased risk. The researchers say ensuring that homes have a quiet side may be important for reducing the potential neurodegenerative effects of chronic noise exposure.

News release

From: JAMA

Road Traffic Noise, Noise Difference Between Residential Facades, and Risk of Parkinson Disease

About The Study: Results of this cohort study show that long-term exposure to road traffic noise was associated with higher Parkinson disease risk. Having a quiet facade mitigated this association. These findings suggest noise as a novel risk factor for Parkinson disease and support mitigation strategies ensuring a quiet residential side.

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Journal/
conference: JAMA Neurology

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Danish Cancer Institute

Funder: The Danish National Health Survey was funded by The Capital Region, Region Zealand, The South Denmark Region, The Central Denmark Region, The North Denmark Region, Ministry of Health and the National Institute of Public Health (University of Southern Denmark).

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