The biology behind what causes Parkinson’s disease (PD) is complex, with only about a quarter of cases with clear genetic drivers. The environment – where you live, the air you breathe, the food you eat, the world around you – plays a key role in PD. Emerging research is showing environmental exposures to things like pesticides and pollution may interact with a person’s genetics and contribute to the disease. And there’s a myriad of other factors still being investigated, from the forces that drive your access to neighborhoods with clean air and water, good doctors and healthy living opportunities to psychosocial factors like stress and discrimination. In audio from this Third Thursdays Webinar, listen to our expert panel discuss the latest research and ways you can get involved to end preventable exposures and advocate for Parkinson’s policy.
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Larry Gifford, MJFF Patient Council member and Parkinson’s advocate, leads a discussion with panelists:
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Beate Ritz, MD, PhD, a distinguished professor of epidemiology, environmental health and neurology at UCLA. She also co-directs the UCLA Center for Gene-Environment Studies of Parkinson’s Disease.
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Joohi Jimenez-Shahed, MD, an associate professor of neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She’s also the co-chair elect of Parkinson Study Group (PSG) and the chair of PSG’s working group on healthcare outcomes and disparities.
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Ted Thompson is MJFF senior vice president of public policy.
View a transcript of the podcast.
Want to see the slides and other resources from the webinar? Watch on demand.
Help policymakers understand what matters to people living with Parkinson’s. Become an advocate. And tell the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban paraquat today.
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