The neurotoxicity of pesticides: Implications for Parkinson's disease

Title: The neurotoxicity of pesticides: Implications for Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the fastest-growing neurodegenerative disorder worldwide, and no effective cure is currently available. With the constant rise in pesticide usage to meet the demands of pesticide dependent farming systems, the risk of environmental contamination and subsequent PD development is also increasing.

This review explores the molecular mechanisms by which pesticide exposure influences PD development, shedding light on their role in the pathogenesis of PD and highlighting the need for preventative measures and regulatory oversight to mitigate these risks.

Neuropathologically, PD is characterised by the selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and by the accumulation of alpha-synuclein (aSyn)-rich proteinaceous inclusions within surviving neurons. As a multifactorial disorder, approximately 85 % of PD cases are sporadic with unknown etiology.

Among the many risk factors implicated in PD, exposure to neurotoxic pesticides stands out as a significant contributor. While the effects of many are still uncharacterised, it has already been shown that rotenone, paraquat, maneb, and dieldrin affect critical cellular pathways, including mitochondrial and proteasomal dysfunction, aSyn aggregation, autophagy dysregulation, and disruption of dopamine metabolism.

Leslie Amaral, Márcia Martins, Manuela Côrte-Real, Tiago F. Outeiro, Susana R. Chaves, António Rego. (2025). The neurotoxicity of pesticides: Implications for Parkinson's disease, Chemosphere, Volume 377.

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WeedsNews6874: re: The neurotoxicity of pesticides: Implications for Parkinson's disease

Article: WeedsNews6864 (permalink)
Categories: :WeedsNews:research alert, :WeedsNews:paraquat, :WeedsNews:maneb, :WeedsNews:dieldrin, :WeedsNews:rotenone, :WeedsNews:health
Date: 1 May 2025; 7:12:00 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time

Author Name: David Low
Author ID: adminDavid