Overview
Concern is growing over exposure to and effects of chemicals that are toxic to the human nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves), in part because information on the overall magnitude of environmental neurotoxicity is lacking. Certain populations are particularly at risk for the effects of exposure to neurotoxic substances. The developing brain is especially sensitive to damage from some types of chemical exposures because of its intrinsic characteristics, as well as the lack or incomplete development of a protective blood-brain barrier (which occurs as children grow to adulthood). Thus, developmental neurotoxicity is an important area of research for investigators in the Neurotoxicology Research Core, who collaborate with investigators in the Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology Research Core.

It has been suggested that exposure to environmental chemicals can contribute to clinical neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases later in life. Although the extent to which environmental neurotoxicants contribute to chronic neurologic and psychiatric disease remains unknown, some population studies have found evidence that various environmental factors are involved in the etiology of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s syndrome, and amiotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease). A number of studies by Core members focus on this important area.

Individual susceptibility to environmental agents can affect neurotoxic outcomes. In the last few years, increasing efforts have been directed toward the development of biomarkers (i.e., indicators signaling events in biological systems or samples) for neurotoxicity. These biomarkers (of exposure, effects, or susceptibility) will be of great importance for their application to neuroepidemiology studies at the molecular level, and they are being studied by various Core investigators, often utilizing the resources of the Functional Genomics Laboratory Facility Core.