A long-term reliance on chemical pesticides could be quietly undermining brain health and emotional well-being among older farmers in West Bengal, a new scientific investigation suggests. Published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, the study highlights a troubling association between prolonged pesticide exposure and higher rates of memory problems, depression and neurological disorders in rural communities.
The research was conducted by a multi-institutional team from the ICMR–Centre for Ageing and Mental Health, Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, Sagore Dutta Hospital and the Institute of Health & Family Welfare, Kolkata. The authors describe their findings as a warning signal for rural India, where intensive chemical use in agriculture continues with limited protective measures and low awareness of long-term health risks.
Fieldwork was carried out in the Galsi II block of Purba Bardhaman district, an area considered broadly representative of West Bengal’s rural population, where agriculture remains the primary livelihood for a majority of residents. The team assessed 808 individuals aged 50 years and above who had been living in the region for at least five years. While the researchers acknowledge the modest sample size, they argue that the data provide valuable insight into the burden of neurological and mental-health conditions in rural settings.
The results were striking. More than 20% of participants showed signs of cognitive impairment, depressive symptoms, or possible movement-related disorders. Cognitive difficulties included problems with memory, attention, reasoning, and everyday functioning. About 12.5% of those screened had cognitive impairment alone a proportion that compares closely with, and in some cases exceeds, figures reported in urban elderly populations in other parts of India.
Pesticide exposure emerged as a key risk factor. Individuals who regularly handled pesticides were found to be nearly three times more likely to experience neurological or mental-health issues than those with minimal exposure. The risk increased further among farmers with more than three decades of exposure or those who sprayed chemicals weekly. Participants engaged exclusively in farming recorded poorer memory performance, greater difficulty in daily activities, and higher levels of depression compared to others.
Neurology experts say the findings are consistent with existing scientific understanding. Dr. Manjari Tripathi, head of neurology at AIIMS, noted that pesticides have long been linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s dementia. Both the intensity and duration of exposure, she emphasized, play a crucial role in determining long-term risk.
The authors caution that without timely policy interventions ranging from safer agricultural practices and protective equipment to regular health screening India’s rural elderly population could face a growing burden of memory loss, depression, and disability rooted in decades of unchecked pesticide use.
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