DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) might have been banned in Britain during the late 1980s but people exposed to it might not be spared from its hazardous effects after all.

A recent case study among 86 Alzheimer patients and 79 healthy elderlies showed that levels of DDE were four times higher among patients with Alzheimers compared to healthy subjects. Possessing DDE levels increase the risk of a person to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

DDE is a chemical compound found in bodily tissues which came from DDT.

With the result of the case study, authors of the research suggest that exposure to such pesticide might be a contributing factor to the disease.

Co-author Dr. Allan Levey said, “This is one of the first studies identifying a strong environmental risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.” He added that the implication is “strikingly large.”

Another finding showed that patients who are already carrying the disease’s gene are also at risk in developing severe cognitive impairment if they were also exposed to DDE in high levels.

DDT pesticide was introduced during World War II. Before it was outlawed in Britain, the pesticide was used primarily in agriculture. And until today, some of its remains might still be contaminating grains, vegetables, fruits and seafoods.

Today, 80 percent of Americans were traced to have DDE in their bodies as it takes decades to flush out the said chemical compound out of the body. Furthermore, it can multiply in the tissues especially in aging people.

Dr. Levey adds that the observation can explain why age is considered the main factor in the development of Alzheimer’s. As a result of this study, the researchers are now suggesting that doctors should test their patients for DDE to detect early signs of Alzheimer’s.