A new hypothesis paper is adding to the growing scientific agreement that the root cause of Parkinson’s disease starts in either the nose or the gut. It suggests that environmental toxins are likely the source of this. The debate over whether the toxic proteins that cause Parkinson’s disease originate in the brain, nose, or gut has been ongoing for the last 20 years. In 2003, Heiko Braak, MD, a German pathologist, first suggested that the disease starts outside the brain. More recently, Per Borghammer, MD, from Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, and his colleagues have argued that the disease is the result of environmental toxicants.
A new hypothesis paper published in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease on World Parkinson’s Day brings together the brain-first and body-first models, linking them to potential causes of the disease - environmental toxicants that are either inhaled or ingested. The authors of the study, which includes Borghammer, propose that inhaling certain pesticides, common dry cleaning chemicals, and air pollution can lead to the brain-first model of the disease. On the other hand, ingesting toxicants like contaminated food and water can result in the body-first model.The article mentions the connection between environmental factors and Parkinson’s disease, suggesting that the disease may have its initial roots in the nose and gut. Dr. Ray Dorsey, a professor of Neurology, explains that the pathology of Parkinson’s is closely connected to the outside world, and that it is a systemic disease. Furthermore, the article emphasizes the role of environmental factors in contributing to the development of Parkinson’s disease.It is suggested that Parkinson’s disease, a neurological disorder, could be caused by toxic substances and is therefore highly preventable. Different pathways and different forms of the disease exist. For the past 25 years, scientists have focused on a misfolded protein called alpha-synuclein as a major factor in the development of Parkinson’s. This protein accumulates in the brain, forming clumps called Lewy bodies, which lead to dysfunction and death of various nerve cells, including those involved in controlling motor function. Initially, it was theorized by Braak that an unidentified pathogen, such as a virus, might be responsible for the disease.Responsible for the disease. The new article suggests that exposure to toxins in the environment, such as dry cleaning and degreasing chemicals like trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE), the weed killer paraquat, and air pollution, could potentially contribute to the development of toxic alpha-synuclein. TCE and PCE are present in numerous former industrial, commercial, and military sites, including the Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune. Paraquat is widely used in the US as an herbicide, despite being banned in over 30 countries, including the European Union and China, due to safety concerns. Air pollution is also considered a possible factor.Toxic levels were a major issue in London during the nineteenth century when James Parkinson, whose 269th birthday is being celebrated today, initially identified the condition. The nose and gut have a soft, permeable lining and are connected to the brain. According to the brain-first model, chemicals are inhaled and may enter the brain through the nerve responsible for smell. Alpha-synuclein then spreads from the brain’s smell center to other parts of the brain, primarily on one side, where dopamine-producing neurons are concentrated. The death of these cells is a characteristic of Parkinson’s disease, which may cause asymmetrical effects.tremors and decreased movement speed, as well as a slower progression of symptoms after being diagnosed. It is not until much later that significant cognitive decline or dementia occurs.
When consumed, the chemicals move through the lining of the digestive system. The initial development of alpha-synuclein pathology may start in the gastrointestinal nervous system and then spread to both sides of the brain and the spinal cord. This pathway, starting in the body, is often linked to Lewy body dementia, a condition related to Parkinson’s disease. Early signs include constipation and sleep disturbances, followed by more evenly distributed movement impairments.s and earlier dementia, as the disease spreads through both brain hemispheres.
New approaches to comprehend and explore brain illnesses
“These environmental toxicants are prevalent and not everyone has Parkinson’s disease,” Dorsey explained. “The timing, amount, and length of exposure and interactions with genetic and other environmental factors are probably crucial in determining who eventually develops Parkinson’s. In most cases, these exposures likely occurred years or decades before symptoms appear.”
Referring to a growing body of evidence connecting environmental exposure to Parkinson’s disease, the authors believe that there is a need for new models to understand and study brain diseases.The new models could help scientists link certain exposures to certain types of the disease, potentially leading to a better understanding of how chemicals in our environment can negatively affect our health. The authors believe that this could help solve many mysteries surrounding Parkinson’s disease and ultimately lead to prevention. These models may also improve understanding of how toxic substances contribute to other brain disorders such as autism in children, ALS in adults, and Alzheimer’s in seniors. Dorsey and his colleague suggest that increasing public awareness of the harmful effects of various chemicals in our environment will also aid in this effort.Researchers from the University of Rochester are hosting a symposium in Washington, DC on May 20 to explore the connection between toxicants in our food, water, and air and brain diseases. The event will focus on the role of these environmental factors in various brain diseases.
The authors of the hypothesis paper are E. Ray Dorsey, Briana R. De Miranda, and Jacob Horsager. Dorsey is from the University of Rochester, De Miranda is from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Horsager is from Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark.