This episode of The Smart Human Podcast features a comprehensive discussion with clinical neurologist Dr. Ray Dorsey on the rise of Parkinson's disease, its environmental causes, and strategies for prevention.
In this episode, they discuss why Parkinson’s disease has become the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world and how environmental toxins like pesticides, air pollution, and contaminated water play a significantly larger role in its development than genetics. Dr. Dorsey explains the surprising ways the disease can actually originate in the nose or the gut years before affecting the brain, highlighting early warning signs like a lost sense of smell or vivid dreams. Ultimately, they explore the shift toward prevention over treatment, looking at the science behind reducing everyday environmental exposures to protect your long-term brain health.
About Dr. Ray Dorsey
Dr. Ray Dorsey is the director of the Center for the Brain & the Environment at the Atria Health and Research Institute. The center’s mission is to identify the root causes of brain diseases—from autism to Alzheimer’s—in order to prevent them. Alongside his colleagues, he authored Ending Parkinson’s Disease and The Parkinson’s Plan, books detailing new pathways for preventing and treating the condition.
Dr. Dorsey previously directed the Center for Health + Technology at the University of Rochester, chaired the international Huntington Study Group, led the movement disorders division at Johns Hopkins, and consulted for McKinsey & Company. In 2015, the White House recognized him as a “Champion for Change” for his work in Parkinson’s disease.
