Experts Warn: Widely Used Pesticides May Pose Threat to Brain Health

A widely used pesticide has been found to potentially increase the risk of Parkinson's disease by damaging brain cells. A study conducted by UCLA Health researchers found that long-term exposure to the pesticide klorpirifos is strongly linked to Parkinson's disease. The researchers compared data from 829 people diagnosed with Parkinson's and 824 people without the disease. The results showed that people who used klorpirifos in their surroundings for many years had a more than 2.5-fold increased risk of developing Parkinson's. The study also showed in detail how the chemical damages brain cells. The researchers conducted laboratory experiments to understand how the pesticide affects the brain. In the experiments, mice exposed to klorpirifos for 11 weeks developed movement disorders and lost dopamine-producing nerve cells, which are damaged in Parkinson's disease. The scientists also found inflammation in the brain and an abnormal buildup of a protein called alpha-synuclein, which is closely linked to Parkinson's disease.