How strong is the association between pesticide exposure and increased risk for Parkinson's disease and how do we translate this association into therapeutic strategies?

Environmental Factors, Environmental Toxins, Risk Factors

Certain pesticides, including paraquat, rotenone and maneb, have been linked to increased risk for PD. How strong is this association and how does it compare to other known risk factors (such as genetic factors)? What is known about the mechanisms linking pesticide exposure to PD pathogenesis and can this knowledge be translated into actual therapeutic strategies?

Responses:
Agent Orange linked to Parkinson's disease - VA extends benefits
Holli Kawadler, MJFF
27 Oct 2009 05:52 PM EST
Last week the Department of Veteran's Affairs released new guidelines allowing veterans exposed to Agent Orange who suffer from Parkinson's disease to claim health benefits. Agent Orange is an ... 
Investigating pesticide exposure and PD risk
Beate Ritz, UCLA
28 Oct 2009 10:42 AM EST
Epidemiologic studies have consistently suggested that pesticide exposures heighten the risk of developing PD. Few studies have identified risk increases greater than 2-fold; occasionally risks are ... 
Responses: 1
Question for Dr. Ritz
Haydeh Payami, Wadsworth
19 Nov 2009 09:19 AM EST
Dr. Ritz - I am a geneticist, and I agree with you that we need to have both exposure and genetic data.  Our group has spent nearly two decades compiling genetic data on several thousand ... 
Genes and Environment
Gary W Miller, Emory
23 Nov 2009 04:54 PM EST
There has been a lot of excitement over the recent discoveries of PD-related genes, and for good reason.  However, there has not been as much excitement (unfortunately) about some of the more ... 
Responses: 2
Genes and Environment
Richard J Smeyne, St. Jude
24 Nov 2009 11:42 AM EST
Gary Miller is correct when he discusses the fact that the PD world seems to be split into gene or environment camps.  While each factor alone can be a primiary etiology of PD (the MPTP-addicts, ... 
Responses: 1
DOPAL provides a key chemical link between pesticides and PD
William J. Burke, SLU
25 Nov 2009 01:09 PM EST
3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL) is the monoamine oxidase (MAO) metabolite of dopamine (DA). DOPAL is is present at physiological relevant levels in humand brain (Kristal et al., 2001) and is ... 
Tackling Complexity
Beate Ritz, UCLA
26 Nov 2009 12:55 PM EST
This has become an exciting discussion that hopefully will foster more collaboration between the ‘camps’ and mutual appreciation for the enormous task at hand in solving the PD puzzle. As ...