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Abstract
Nearly one million individuals in the United States are living with Parkinson’s disease (PD). In the past two decades, the death rate from PD has risen by about 63 percent in the United States. Major findings have been made in the past five years about the potential impact of glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine) exposure on the onset of PD symptoms. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to provide a compiled update on the chemical and biological alterations that glyphosate imposes on the human brain. A meta-analysis was conducted to create a quantitative estimate of the connection between PD and glyphosate. Findings suggest that glyphosate exposure causes synaptic terminal alterations which affect the synaptic assembly and neuronal connectivity and alters adaptation of gene expression by crossing the blood-brain barrier. This paper highlights findings towards glyphosate impacts on dopamine production through similar mechanisms as the banned pesticide Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). Despite DDT being banned in 1972, glyphosate still remains readily available for consumer use. Although The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has assured Americans that glyphosate poses no risk to human health, the herbicide is banned in at least 10 countries and some states and cities within the United States are starting to implement restrictions. The results of this study provide a proposal for legislatures to mandate glyphosate restrictions for the United States as a whole.
Publication Date
2023
Subject Major(s)
Public Health, Neuroscience
Keywords
Parkinson's disease, glyphosate, neurotoxicity, agrochemicals, herbicides, pesticides, DDT, synaptic spine
Disciplines
Biosecurity | Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
Current Academic Year
Freshman
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Mary Boyes
Rights
© The Author(s)
Included in
Biosecurity Commons, Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Commons