Posters
Presenting Author Academic/Professional Position
Medical Student
Academic Level (Author 1)
Medical Student
Discipline/Specialty (Author 1)
Internal Medicine
Academic Level (Author 2)
Medical Student
Discipline/Specialty (Author 2)
Internal Medicine
Academic Level (Author 3)
Medical Student
Discipline/Specialty (Author 3)
Neurology
Academic Level (Author 4)
Staff
Discipline/Specialty (Author 4)
Neuroscience
Presentation Type
Poster
Discipline Track
Clinical Science
Abstract Type
Research/Clinical
Abstract
Background: Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by both motor and non-motor symptoms. PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, after Alzheimer’s Disease, with global prevalence increasing by 74.3% between 1990 and 2016. The majority of PD can be classified as primary or secondary parkinsonism. Differentiating secondary parkinsonism, which is caused by medications or environmental toxins, from other forms of PD requires careful exclusion of alternative causes and identification of red flags. Here, we sought to review literature concerning the effects of environmental neurotoxin exposure on the severity of PD.
Methods: We conducted a systematic review using PubMed. Our search was conducted using the MeSH terms "neurotoxins AND Parkinson’s disease AND environmental," applying filters to include studies published within the last five years, in English, and involving human participants. Eligibility criteria focused on studies examining the relationship between neurotoxins present in pesticides and Parkinson's disease. The initial search yielded 75 articles, of which 61 were excluded after abstract screening. Additional relevant studies were identified through related articles linked within the original search. Following a comprehensive full-text review, a final selection of 30 eligible studies was made for detailed analysis.
Results: This study reviewed the 30 eligible studies from various databases, focusing on subjects engaged in agricultural practices to identify chemicals associated with the development of Parkinson's disease (PD) or secondary parkinsonism. The findings provide evidence supporting a significant link between neurotoxins in pesticide users and the incidence of these conditions. Specifically, chemicals such as Rotenone, Manganese, Paraquat, MPP+/MPTP, and Agent Orange demonstrated statistically significant correlations with diagnoses of PD or secondary parkinsonism. Furthermore, the combined effects of multiple neurotoxic chemicals, commonly present together in pesticides, were also analyzed, highlighting their potential cumulative impact due to widespread use and available data.
Conclusions: The findings of this review strongly support the role of neurotoxins in pesticides as a significant contributor to Parkinson’s disease (PD) and secondary parkinsonism. The symptoms observed in pesticide users exposed to these neurotoxins closely resemble those seen in idiopathic PD cases. However, further research is required to distinguish neurotoxin-induced PD cases from secondary parkinsonism with greater clarity. Given the limited data currently available, future studies should prioritize identifying potential confounding variables that could influence these findings and confirm the direct impact of neurotoxin exposure on PD incidence. Addressing this issue could lead to reduced reliance on harmful pesticides, ultimately benefiting public health.
Recommended Citation
Bellamkonda, Arjun; Ibrahim, Amin; Zamarron, Hugo; and Potter-Baker, Kelsey, "The Influence of Environmental Neurotoxins on Parkinson's Disease" (2025). Research Symposium. 25.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/somrs/2025/posters/25
Included in
The Influence of Environmental Neurotoxins on Parkinson's Disease
Background: Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by both motor and non-motor symptoms. PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, after Alzheimer’s Disease, with global prevalence increasing by 74.3% between 1990 and 2016. The majority of PD can be classified as primary or secondary parkinsonism. Differentiating secondary parkinsonism, which is caused by medications or environmental toxins, from other forms of PD requires careful exclusion of alternative causes and identification of red flags. Here, we sought to review literature concerning the effects of environmental neurotoxin exposure on the severity of PD.
Methods: We conducted a systematic review using PubMed. Our search was conducted using the MeSH terms "neurotoxins AND Parkinson’s disease AND environmental," applying filters to include studies published within the last five years, in English, and involving human participants. Eligibility criteria focused on studies examining the relationship between neurotoxins present in pesticides and Parkinson's disease. The initial search yielded 75 articles, of which 61 were excluded after abstract screening. Additional relevant studies were identified through related articles linked within the original search. Following a comprehensive full-text review, a final selection of 30 eligible studies was made for detailed analysis.
Results: This study reviewed the 30 eligible studies from various databases, focusing on subjects engaged in agricultural practices to identify chemicals associated with the development of Parkinson's disease (PD) or secondary parkinsonism. The findings provide evidence supporting a significant link between neurotoxins in pesticide users and the incidence of these conditions. Specifically, chemicals such as Rotenone, Manganese, Paraquat, MPP+/MPTP, and Agent Orange demonstrated statistically significant correlations with diagnoses of PD or secondary parkinsonism. Furthermore, the combined effects of multiple neurotoxic chemicals, commonly present together in pesticides, were also analyzed, highlighting their potential cumulative impact due to widespread use and available data.
Conclusions: The findings of this review strongly support the role of neurotoxins in pesticides as a significant contributor to Parkinson’s disease (PD) and secondary parkinsonism. The symptoms observed in pesticide users exposed to these neurotoxins closely resemble those seen in idiopathic PD cases. However, further research is required to distinguish neurotoxin-induced PD cases from secondary parkinsonism with greater clarity. Given the limited data currently available, future studies should prioritize identifying potential confounding variables that could influence these findings and confirm the direct impact of neurotoxin exposure on PD incidence. Addressing this issue could lead to reduced reliance on harmful pesticides, ultimately benefiting public health.
