Study Rationale: Chemicals in our environment, including some air pollutants, likely contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, relatively few chemicals have been identified as PD risk factors.
Hypothesis: We hypothesize that chemicals that can easily enter the brain are more likely than other chemicals to increase PD risk.
Study Design: We will use nationwide data on 172 outdoor air pollutants and millions of Medicare recipients to identify which chemicals in the air are associated with the development of PD. We then will use computer tools and lab experiments to predict which of these chemicals can reach the brain and how these chemicals might contribute to PD development.
Impact on Diagnosis/Treatment of Parkinson’s disease: The goal of this project is to identify environmental exposures that, if addressed through policy changes and education, could reduce the number of people who are ultimately diagnosed with PD.
Next Steps for Development: Identification of air pollutants associated with PD will lead to additional research to explore the biology of these environmental toxins to better understand how they contribute to the characteristic brain degeneration seen in PD.