Can What’s On Our Food Affect Our Brain? The Link Between Pesticides, Nutrition, and Parkinson’s Disease

Written By: Renee Rouleau- B.S., PhD student, Jacobs School of Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo

Can What’s On Our Food Affect Our Brain? The Link Between Pesticides, Nutrition, and Parkinson’s Disease

We often hear that “you are what you eat,” but what about what’s on your food? Recent research suggests that pesticides and other environmental chemicals may play a role in brain health—and is even linked to the development of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). As discussed in our last article,  nutrition from vitamins and minerals found in whole foods  is crucial for maintaining strong muscles and a healthy brain, but the quality of our food and how it’s grown can also matter.

Pesticides are chemicals commonly used to eliminate bugs and weeds from crops, ultimately helping to increase food production. However, it's important to understand that some of these chemicals have been associated with alterations in brain function.

Specifically, two pesticides, paraquat and rotenone, have been shown to cause cell death within the central nervous system, which includes the brain. These chemicals primarily work by disrupting the mitochondria, the energy-producing units within cells. This disruption leads to cellular damage and, ultimately, cell death, as outlined in Tanner et al.'s 2011 study.

While these pesticides can affect various types of cells, their impact on the dopaminergic system is particularly noteworthy. This selectivity towards dopaminergic cells is due to complex biochemical processes. From my personal experience working with neurons and rotenone, I have observed cells dying as quickly as 15 minutes after direct application to brain slices, a truly alarming sight. Fortunately, for the vast majority of people, such direct exposure is highly unlikely. The more common way individuals might encounter these chemicals is indirectly, through their use on plants or by touching and consuming plants that have been treated with them.

However, indirect exposure is still a problem! A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that people exposed to both paraquat and rotenone had more than twice the risk of developing Parkinson’s compared to those not exposed (Tanner et al., 2011). And if you were involved in agricultural activity like farming and using pesticides, that percentage goes up even more (Pouchieu et al., 2018). ?

It's also important to consider the environment where our food is grown. Environmental toxins can negatively impact the quality of both soil and water, which, in turn, affects the vitamin and mineral content of our food. For instance, poor soil conditions can lead to lower levels of essential nutrients like magnesium and selenium, both crucial for proper nerve and muscle function (Feliziani et al., 2025).

Keeping these factors in mind is important when making food choices, and especially if you're gardening, to help ensure your fruits and vegetables are as nutrient-rich as possible. Now that we understand what these toxins are and their potential effects on our brains, the question is: how can we minimize our exposure risk while still maintaining a healthy diet?

Choosing organic foods—foods grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers—may help reduce this risk. While organic food isn’t necessarily more nutritious, it often has fewer pesticide residues. The Environmental Working Group’s annual “Dirty Dozen” list highlights fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide levels, like strawberries, spinach, and apples. They also have a “Clean Fifteen” list to counter their Dirty Dozen. Buying these items organic may be a smart step, especially for people concerned about brain health or with a family history of Parkinson’s. Knowing where your food came from can also help, and things like Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes or stores can deliver farm-fresh and organic produce right to you! 

Farmer’s markets are all the rage during the summer (and Franklin has one of the best markets I’ve ever seen!), and are usually supplying fresh, organic produce at really affordable prices, so you can guarantee quality and a good deal. And if you’re worried about where your food is coming from, especially in relation to these choices, usually the farmers are there and working the stands too so you can direct any questions to them. For the record, none of what I’m saying is “sponsored” or trying to advertise either, these are things I’ve done in my own life to support me and my family’s health, and I want to make sure you have the same informational access I do!

In closing, while we can’t always control the environment, we can make informed choices about what we eat. Washing produce, choosing organic when possible, and supporting sustainable farming can  help protect our health. As science continues to explore how our environment affects diseases like Parkinson’s, one thing is clear: - taking care of our food means taking care of our brains.

References: 

C. Pouchieu, C. Piel, C. Carles, A. Gruber, C. Helmer, S. Tual, E. Marcotullio, P. Lebailly, I. Baldi. Pesticide use in agriculture and Parkinson's disease in the AGRICAN cohort study. Int. J. Epidemiol., 47 (2018), pp. 299-310, 10.1093/ije/dyx225 

Feliziani, G., Bordoni, L., & Gabbianelli, R. (2025). Regenerative Organic Agriculture and Human Health: The Interconnection Between Soil, Food Quality, and Nutrition. Antioxidants, 14(5), 530. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14050530

Tanner, C. M., Kamel, F., Ross, G. W., Hoppin, J. A., Goldman, S. M., Korell, M., Marras, C., Bhudhikanok, G. S., Kasten, M., Chade, A. R., Comyns, K., Richards, M. B., Meng, C., Priestley, B., Fernandez, H. H., Cambi, F., Umbach, D. M., & Langston, J. W. (2011). Rotenone, paraquat, and Parkinson’s disease. Environmental Health Perspectives, 119(6), 866–872. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1002839 

Environmental Working Group. (2024). EWG’s 2024 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™. https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/full-list.php