| Neurodegenerative Diseases: An Overview of Environmental Risk Factors Rebecca C. Brown,1 Alan H. Lockwood,2 and
Babasaheb R. Sonawane3 1Association of Schools of Public Health, National Center
for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA; 2Departments of Neurology
and Nuclear Medicine, Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System
and University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New
York, USA; 3National Center for Environmental Assessment, Office
of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington,
DC, USA Abstract
The population of the United States is aging, and an ever-increasing number of Americans are afflicted with neurodegenerative diseases. Because the pathogenesis of many of these diseases remains unknown, we must consider that environmental factors may play a causal role. This review provides an overview of the epidemiologic evidence for environmental etiologies for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, parkinsonian syndromes (multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy) , and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Epidemiologic evidence for an association between environmental agents’ exposure and neurodegenerative diseases is not conclusive. However, there are indications that there may be causal links, and the need for more research is obvious. Key words: Alzheimer disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, electromagnetic fields, metals, multiple system atrophy, neurodegeneration, Parkinson disease, pesticides, progressive supranuclear palsy, solvents. Environ Health Perspect 113:1250-1256 (2005) . doi:10.1289/ehp.7567 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 26 May 2005]
This article is part of the mini-monograph “Early Environmental Origins of Neurodegenerative Disease in Later Life: Research and Risk Assessment.” Address correspondence to R.C. Brown, U.S. EPA, NCEA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Mailcode 8623D, Washington, DC 20460 USA. Telephone: (202) 564-3293. Fax: (202) 565-0079. E-mail: brown.rebecca@epa.gov We thank L. Boni and L. Trasande of Mt. Sinai School of Medicine for their logistic support. We also thank E. Newell of the U.S. EPA for editorial support. The opinions expressed in this article are the authors’ and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated institutions. Any mention of trade names also does not represent endorsement of products by the U.S. EPA, Association of Schools of Public Health, or the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York. The authors declare they have no competing financial interests. Received 1 September 2004 ; accepted 5 May 2005. The full version of this article is available for free in HTML or PDF formats. |
