Cognitive Deterioration
Conditions
Keywords
Petroleum compounds, psychological heath, cognitive funtions
Brief summary
Over the last decade, awareness of the effects of hydrocarbon fuels on neurodegenerative disorders has increased significantly, as they are ubiquitous environmentally toxic chemicals that affect the central nervous system and result in irreversible neuronal damage, as many hydrocarbons can cross the blood-brain barrier through multiple pathways and cause direct toxicity.
Detailed description
Petrol stations are establishments that retail liquid fuels derived from petroleum, alcohol, and other automotive fuels, with equipment available for their measurement and storage. This process, linked to gasoline distribution, can be a significant source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers (BTEX), the primary volatile hydrocarbons derived from petroleum. Headache, fatigue, dizziness, respiratory tract infections, skin allergies, eye infections, and impairment of memory have been experienced by a few people immediately following exposure to some solvents. CNS depression is a common physiological outcome caused by high exposure to some VOCs. General anaesthetic effects, and as a most severe outcome, unconsciousness and, in some cases, death, may occur at the end. Long-term exposure to organic solvents may cause permanent central nervous system disturbances, a condition called chronic solvent encephalopathy (CSE). Cognitive symptoms and neuropsychological signs, or issues with memory, focus, and learning, are the hallmarks of CSE, which is underdiagnosed and characterized by these symptoms as well as possible side effects like headaches, fatigue, balance issues, and mild depression. If exposure stops, though, the illness will not worsen. We are discovering more about the importance of nutrition and its impact on an individual's susceptibility to illness progression. Diet has been suggested to have an important role in cognitive health and the development of dementia. However, most of the intervention studies conducted to date have mainly assessed the effect of dietary supplements on cognitive function. The toxicity of inhaled vapours is due to their biotransformation into reactive oxygen species, and several studies have highlighted the capacity of whey protein to increase glutathione (GSH), suggesting that this complex mixture is capable of boosting GSH synthesis, thus reducing oxidative stress.
Interventions
Whey, the supernatant of yogurt and a byproduct of cheese, is rich in protein and consists of β-lactalbumin, α-lactoglobulin, immunogloblin, bovine serum albumin, and other minor proteins. Whey protein is a globally consumed food material and is well known for its health benefits
Sponsors
Study design
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
* Workers in direct contact with petroleum compounds in petroleum stations. * Working for at least 8 continuous hours daily for at least 2 years before enrollment in the study. * Participants have willingness to participate and have no history for substance abuse
Exclusion criteria
* Working for less than 2 years with interrupted exposure. * The exposure of workers to petroleum compounds is indirect. * History of psychological and neurodegenerative diseases before starting this job. * Patients with medical conditions like renal or cardiovascular diseases. * Individuals with known allergies or contraindications to study supplements.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Effects of petroleum compounds on psychological health and cognitive functions of petrol station workers in Assiut | 1 year | for psychological assessment through symptom check list 90 (revised) and cognitive function through the Mini Mental State Examination (30 points: 25-30: normal; 21-24: mild cognitive impairment; 10-20: moderate; and 0-9: severe) and Wecksler memory scale (higher score indicates better performance, while lower score indicates memory impairment) |
| To explore the relation between the level of petroleum hydrocarbon metabolites and the severity of psychological heath and cognitive functions disturbance of petrol station workers | 1 year | urinary metabolites for BTEX through GS-MS |
| To explore the role of supplements with whey protein in ameliorating these effects | 1 year | 20 g of whey protein 3 times per week for 8 weeks will be given to workers with cognitive difficulties |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| To assess the relationship between the psychological effects, cognitive functions, and nutritional status of petroleum station workers | 1 year | relationship between nutritional status, psychological symptoms, and cognitive difficulties through statistics |
Countries
Egypt