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Review
. 2022;12(1):45-68.
doi: 10.3233/JPD-212922.

Preventing Parkinson's Disease: An Environmental Agenda

Briana R De Miranda  1 , Samuel M Goldman  2 , Gary W Miller  3 , J Timothy Greenamyre  4 , E Ray Dorsey  5
Affiliations
Review

Preventing Parkinson's Disease: An Environmental Agenda

Briana R De Miranda et al. J Parkinsons Dis. 2022.

Abstract

Fueled by aging populations and continued environmental contamination, the global burden of Parkinson's disease (PD) is increasing. The disease, or more appropriately diseases, have multiple environmental and genetic influences but no approved disease modifying therapy. Additionally, efforts to prevent this debilitating disease have been limited. As numerous environmental contaminants (e.g., pesticides, metals, industrial chemicals) are implicated in PD, disease prevention is possible. To reduce the burden of PD, we have compiled preclinical and clinical research priorities that highlight both disease prediction and primary prevention. Though not exhaustive, the "PD prevention agenda" builds upon many years of research by our colleagues and proposes next steps through the lens of modifiable risk factors. The agenda identifies ten specific areas of further inquiry and considers the funding and policy changes that will be necessary to help prevent the world's fastest growing brain disease.

Keywords: Parkinson’s disease; air pollution; chlorinated solvents; clinical research; environment; metals; pesticides; preclinical research.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Dorsey has received honoraria for speaking at American Academy of Neurology, American Neurological Association, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, International Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Society, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Northwestern University, Physicians Education Resource, LLC, Stanford University, Texas Neurological Society, and Weill Cornell; received compensation for consulting services from Abbott, Abbvie, Acadia, Acorda, Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, Ascension Health Alliance, Bial-Biotech Investments, Inc., Biogen, BluePrint Orphan, California Pacific Medical Center, Caraway Therapeutics, Clintrex, Curasen Therapeutics, DeciBio, Denali Therapeutics, Eli Lilly, Grand Rounds, Huntington Study Group, medical-legal services, Mediflix, Medopad, Medrhythms, Michael J. Fox Foundation, MJH Holding LLC, NACCME, Neurocrine, NeuroDerm, Olson Research Group, Origent Data Sciences, Otsuka, Pear Therapeutic, Praxis, Prilenia, Roche, Sanofi, Seminal Healthcare, Spark, Springer Healthcare, Sunovion Pharma, Sutter Bay Hospitals, Theravance, University of California Irvine, and WebMD; research support from Abbvie, Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Biogen, Biosensics, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, CuraSen, Greater Rochester Health Foundation, Huntington Study Group, Michael J. Fox Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Pfizer, PhotoPharmics, Safra Foundation, and Wave Life Sciences; editorial services for Karger Publications; and ownership interests with Grand Rounds (second opinion service). Dr. Miller receives royalties for his books The Exposome: A Primer and The Exposome: A New Paradigm for the Environment and Health. He also receives compensation as Editor of the journal Exposome, published by Oxford University Press. Dr. De Miranda has consulted for the Hartley Law Group. Drs Greenamyre and Goldman have no conflicts of interest to report.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Parkinson’s disease Prevention Agenda. Preclinical and clinical research areas of focus to better characterize environmental influence and prevent Parkinson’s disease.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Paraquat usage in the U.S. has increased over the last decade. Maps and graph generated from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Pesticide National Synthesis Project URL: http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/show_map.php?year=2017&map=PARAQUAT&hilo=L.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Number of publications on Parkinson’s disease and select topics, 1960-2021. Based on Medline search of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and PubMed for keywords or phrases in publications for PD-related topics. Estimates vary depending on search terms and database coverage.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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