Environmental Aspects of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases Neuropathologies

Abstract

This chapter presents a literature review on the effect of environmental changes factors exposure in the etiology of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The use of pesticides is more intense and somehow erratic as it aims to face climate change consequences like drought and water scarcity. The rural population is getting to be more vulnerable to have these neurodegenerative diseases. However, intense food production and economic models mean also the use of heavy metals in many stages as well during the production and the consumption processes and practices. Evidence from experimental studies shows that such heavy metals may also be a factor for the occurrence of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. At least, the environmental lifestyle and, likely, genetic factors, individually and collectively, play a significant role in the etiology of the diseases.