Pesticides Parkinson’s Disease Link: 25-Year Research Study
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- Dr. Beate Ritz is a distinguished professor of epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and a professor in the department of neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
- Dr. Ritz began researching Parkinson’s disease over 25 years ago, sparked by a colleague’s rapid onset of the disease and the lack of known causes.
- her research focuses on environmental factors related to Parkinson’s disease, specifically in California’s Central valley.
- Her research project is called Parkinson’s Environment Genes (PEG).
- PEG research has found associations between pesticide and air pollution exposure and increased risk of parkinson’s disease.
- Parkinson’s disease is the fastest-growing neurological disease worldwide and currently has no cure, only treatments for symptoms.
- The initial link between environmental toxins and Parkinson’s came from observing “frozen addicts” who developed Parkinsonian symptoms after injecting heroin contaminated with a chemical similar to paraquat dichloride.
- Dr. Ritz utilizes California’s Pesticide Use Reports to track pesticide application in the Central Valley.
- exposure to pesticides occurs through inhalation or ingestion (dust/well water).
- Studies show an association between paraquat exposure and increased Parkinson’s risk; animal models support paraquat causing Parkinson’s-like symptoms.
- More than 10 pesticides have been identified as directly toxic to dopamine-producing neurons.
- Dr. Ritz’s team is currently analyzing combinations of pesticides for toxicity.
- Her research has expanded to include air pollution as a potential factor.
- Associations exist between Parkinson’s risk and exposure to traffic-related pollutants like carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter.
- Air pollution can cause inflammation and contains metals, both linked to immune dysfunction in Parkinson’s.
- Many Parkinson’s patients experience loss of smell before diagnosis.
- Dr. Ritz theorizes that nanoparticles from air pollution can enter the brain via the olfactory bulb (through the nose) and contribute to Parkinson’s development.
- Understanding the effects of air pollution on neurodegenerative diseases is challenging.
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