Alimentation, pesticides et pathologies neurologiques

A recent report from the Inserm brought out the involvement of occupational exposure to pesticides in the development of several diseases such as cancer, fertility problems and neurological diseases. These epidemiological studies have shown that some pesticides can produce toxic effects on the nervous system with the occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases or the onset of cognitive impairment and depression. Firstly, the aim of this review is to introduce the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the neurotoxicity associated with this exposure, through a specific example, Parkinson's disease. In the second part, we discuss the problem of pesticide exposure during the critical period of development (in utero, childhood) by studying the association between organophosphate pesticides and neurodevelopmental disorders. Finally, we discuss the advantages and limitations of these studies (concentrations, route and duration of exposure, effects of mixtures…)