Parkinson’s Disease Is Predominantly an Environmental Disease

Parkinson’s disease is the world’s fastest growing brain disorder, and exposure to environmental toxicants is the principal reason. In this paper, we consider alternative, but unsatisfactory, explanations for its rise, including improved diagnostic skills, aging populations, and genetic causes. We t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of Parkinson's disease Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 451 - 465
Main Authors Dorsey, E. Ray, Bloem, Bastiaan R.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London, England SAGE Publications 01.01.2024
Sage Publications Ltd
IOS Press
Subjects
Air pollution
Environmental Exposure - adverse effects
Humans
Inhalation
Neurodegenerative diseases
Parkinson Disease
Parkinson's disease
Pesticides - adverse effects
Pesticides - toxicity
Population genetics
Position Paper: For/Against
Toxicants
Trichloroethylene
indoor air pollution
genetics
trichloroethylene
pesticides
mitochondria
Parkinson disease
water pollution
primary prevention
solvents
tetrachloroethylene
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Summary:Parkinson’s disease is the world’s fastest growing brain disorder, and exposure to environmental toxicants is the principal reason. In this paper, we consider alternative, but unsatisfactory, explanations for its rise, including improved diagnostic skills, aging populations, and genetic causes. We then detail three environmental toxicants that are likely among the main causes of Parkinson’s disease— certain pesticides, the solvent trichloroethylene, and air pollution. All three environmental toxicants are ubiquitous, many affect mitochondrial functioning, and all can access humans via various routes, including inhalation and ingestion. We reach the hopeful conclusion that most of Parkinson’s disease is thus preventable and that we can help to create a world where Parkinson’s disease is increasingly rare.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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content type line 14
ISSN:1877-7171
1877-718X
DOI:10.3233/JPD-230357