Doctors Warn Chemical Exposure May Be Driving the Rise in Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease continues to surge worldwide — and some experts say environmental chemicals could be playing a much bigger role than previously recognized, according to The Wall Street Journal. Parkinson’s is now the world’s fastest-growing brain disorder, says 2025 research.
One example highlighted by the WSJ: David Toth and his sister both grew up working in their family’s Rochester, N.Y., dry-cleaning shop. Both later developed Parkinson’s. Doctors told them the likely culprit was perchloroethylene (PCE), a dry-cleaning solvent. “You could smell it all the time,” Toth told the WSJ.
What New Research Says About Genetics vs Environmental Risk
Parkinson’s damages dopamine-producing neurons, leading to tremors, stiffness, and slow movement. Yet a study in Brain found only 13% of Americans carry a known genetic risk factor, as reported by the WSJ.
Dr. Ray Dorsey, neurologist at Atria Health and Research Institute, told the WSJ that environmental chemicals — from pesticides to pollutants — are likely driving a large share of cases. “The vast majority of Americans have no known genetic cause or risk factor for their disease,” he said to WSJ.
Not all experts say it’s that direct. Dr. Brad Racette at Barrow Neurological Institute told the WSJ the situation is more complex than one chemical. And Dr. Rodolfo Savica of Mayo Clinic explained to the WSJ that environmental exposures may increase risk, but don’t guarantee disease.
Simple Ways to Reduce Chemical Exposure and Protect Your Brain
Here are practical steps doctors say you can take right now to reduce everyday chemical exposure linked to higher Parkinson’s risk.
- Be cautious where you live. A JAMA Network Open study found people living within one mile of a golf course had a 126% increased risk of Parkinson’s.
- Limit dry-cleaning solvent exposure. The federal government plans to phase out PCE in dry cleaning by 2034.
- Clean your indoor air. Doctors recommend carbon filter air purifiers to help reduce VOCs.
- Filter your drinking water. Private well water isn’t regulated, so chemical contamination can slip through. A carbon filter, like Aquasana's Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow, helps reduce contaminants before you drink them.
While science continues to unfold, experts say reducing chemical load where possible may help protect long-term brain health.
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