Toxicological Perspective on a Stealth Threat: The Link Between Pesticide Exposure and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Mounting research implicates pesticide exposure as a major environmental trigger in the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Pesticides, known for their neurotoxic potential, can cross the blood–brain barrier, persist in the environment, and trigger cellular damage through mechanisms including oxidative stress, microglial activation, and protein aggregation. Notably, these effects may remain clinically silent for years, a phenomenon termed “silent neurotoxicity.” This review explores the toxicological basis of pesticide-induced neurodegeneration, supported by epidemiological data showing a growing global burden and economic impact of these diseases. It further underscores the need for preventive toxicological strategies—such as restricting high-risk pesticide use, enhancing safety regulations, promoting biopesticides, and developing early diagnostic biomarkers—to mitigate long-term neurological outcomes and support sustainable public health policy.