Metal fumes, drinking habits and dementia: What a new study found

By Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta, Ph.D.Reviewed by Lauren HardakerNov 6 2026

Could workplace chemicals and everyday habits influence dementia risk? A new study points to metal exposure and alcohol consumption as potential factors in Lewy body dementia, and raises questions about differences between men and women.

Study: An exploratory remote pilot study of environmental risk factors for Lewy body dementia considering sex differences. Image credit: Branislav Nenin/Shutterstock.com

A new study published in the journal npj Parkinson's Disease identifies potential environmental factors associated with the risk of developing Lewy body dementia, with preliminary evidence of possible sex-related differences.

Environmental exposures may hold clues to Lewy body dementia

Lewy body dementia (LBD), including dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease dementia, is among the most common neurodegenerative dementias after Alzheimer's disease, characterized by abnormal accumulation of the protein alpha-synuclein in the brain. Despite increasing prevalence worldwide, no disease-modifying treatment is currently available for LBD.

The pathology and clinical presentation of LBD differ substantially by sex, with males more likely than females to exhibit pure Lewy body pathology and typical clinical profiles. Although biological factors significantly contribute to these sex-specific differences, it is crucial to understand how environmental risk factors are shaped by gender norms and how these factors interact with each other and contribute to the pathologies of LBD.

Identifying and addressing these risk factors at the pre- or early-disease stage is particularly vital for developing preventive as well as therapeutic interventions for LBD. The current study aimed to address this vital need by investigating sex-specific environmental and occupational factors associated with LBD using data from a remote pilot survey. The researchers also sought to assess the feasibility of collecting environmental exposure data remotely from people with LBD.

Researchers compare environmental exposures in 254 survey participants

The study included a total of 130 individuals with self-reported LBD and 124 age-matched controls without reported cognitive or movement problems who provided information on residential history, chemical exposure, smoking status, and alcohol use through a remote survey.

The association of each of these environmental factors with LBD risk was assessed using statistical models adjusted for age and years of education, in the entire study population, as well as in subgroups stratified by sex and LBD subtypes (dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease dementia). The researchers examined individual exposures rather than their combined effects.

Metalworking exposure linked to higher odds of Lewy body dementia

The study analysis considering the entire study population revealed that metalworking activities, including welding and soldering, and exposure to metal dust or fumes were associated with higher odds of LBD, including dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease dementia. This association appeared more pronounced among males, although the analysis did not establish statistically significant sex differences.

The analysis by sex suggested that exposure to glues or adhesives may be associated with higher risk of Parkinson's disease dementia and a history of living in suburban areas may be associated with lower risk of dementia with Lewy bodies, particularly among females. However, these associations did not remain statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Among males, smoking showed a possible association with higher LBD risk, while greater weekly beer consumption was associated with higher LBD risk in the overall study population. The smoking association did not survive correction for multiple comparisons.

Metal exposure findings highlight unanswered questions about dementia risk

The study highlights the potential associations of certain environmental and occupational factors, including metal exposure, alcohol and smoking exposure, and residence, with LBD risk, with possible sex-related differences that require further investigation.

The study finds that occupation-related exposure to metal dust and fumes is associated with higher odds of LBD, with some associations appearing stronger among males. Occupations such as welding, brazing, flame cutting, and soldering involve exposure to toxic heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, and chromium. Chronic exposure to these metals has been linked to increased oxidative stress and inflammation and increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. However, the current study did not identify which specific metals participants encountered or establish whether particular metals contributed to LBD.

Existing evidence also suggests that the negative impact of these metals on disease development and progression can be influenced by sex. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, blood levels of cadmium, lead, manganese, and selenium show stronger associations with cognitive performance in males than in females. These findings provide context for the possible sex-related variations in LBD risk suggested by the current study. However, future studies should consider investigating the impact of genetic factors in shaping the effect of metal exposure on LBD risk.

Existing studies on general health suggest that the health impact of occupational exposures may be more pronounced among males, while residential exposures may be more closely associated with health outcomes among females.

The current study links a history of living in suburban areas to lower odds of dementia with Lewy bodies, especially among females, although this association was not statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Suburban living may be associated with higher socioeconomic status, easier access to healthcare, better nutrition and education, more social and physical activity opportunities, lower exposure to hazardous chemicals, lower levels of air and sound pollution, and fewer safety concerns. All these factors could potentially help explain the observed association, although the study did not directly investigate these mechanisms or establish that suburban living protects against neurodegenerative disease.

Studies focusing on sex-specific outcomes report that females living in suburbs exhibit the highest cognitive scores, whereas males living in urban areas exhibit the highest cognitive scores. These findings highlight the potential role of sex-specific factors in shaping the association between residential history and cognitive performance.

The current study suggests that associations involving smoking and alcohol exposure and LBD risk may be more pronounced among males than females, although formal statistical analyses did not establish significant sex differences. This may reflect the typically higher prevalence of these lifestyle habits among males. However, these findings need further validation, as research on sex-specific effects of alcohol use and smoking on dementia has been limited, with inconsistent results. Notably, previous studies have sometimes linked smoking and alcohol consumption to lower Parkinson's disease risk, despite evidence associating smoking and excessive alcohol use with increased dementia risk.

Overall, the study findings suggest that environmental factors may contribute to the LBD pathophysiology with potential sex differences. However, these findings should be treated as exploratory rather than robust causal associations, given the small sample size, complete reliance on self-reported information, and lack of clinical disease diagnosis and validation for cognitive status. Additional limitations include potential selection and recall biases, the predominantly non-Hispanic White and highly educated study population, the lack of detailed information on exposure type, intensity, duration, and timing, and the large number of statistical comparisons.

Larger prospective studies with clinically confirmed diagnoses and more comprehensive exposure assessments are needed to validate these findings. The study also demonstrated the feasibility of remote surveys for investigating environmental factors in people with LBD, potentially supporting broader participation in future research.