Objective: To compare the risk for prodromal Parkinson’s disease (PD) in subjects exposed and non-exposed to pesticides
Background: Farmers may have an elevated risk of developing PD, potentially related to chronic exposure to pesticides and environmental toxins. Identifying prodromal markers in this population is essential for early detection and preventive strategies.
Method: Ongoing longitudinal, observational study (PEST-PD, NCT06420310) aimed at evaluating prodromal PD features in an active farming population. A total of 17 participants were enrolled (16 males, 1 female; mean age 56.5 +/- 3.5 years old). All participants underwent standardized screening for REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), olfactory dysfunction, and combined clinical and digital markers according to established risk algorithms for prodromal PD. Clinical, environmental, and demographic data continue to be collected during follow‑up.
Results: Preliminary cross‑sectional analysis shows that 47% do not use protective masks regularly, 8% had pesticides (carbamates residues) in urine, and 24% of participants screened positive for probable RBD, a known strong predictor of future PD. Hyposmia was detected in 30% of the cohort. Notably, 20% of the population presented combined prodromal markers, potentially reflecting a higher short‑term risk of phenoconversion to prodromal PD compared with isolated findings.
Conclusion: Early results indicate a substantial burden of prodromal PD features in this farming cohort. The relatively high prevalence of RBD, hyposmia, and combined markers supports the hypothesis that farmers may represent a high‑risk group for PD development. Longitudinal follow‑up will determine progression trajectories and may help refine early‑detection strategies tailored to environmentally exposed populations.
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To cite this abstract in AMA style:
E. Cubo, L. Gomez-Cuadrado, D. Garcia-Garcia, A. Canepa, B. Alonzo-Nuñez, D. de Lara. PEST-PD: Preliminary Findings from an Ongoing Longitudinal Observational Study for Prodromal Parkinson’s disease in farmers exposed to pesticides. [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/pest-pd-preliminary-findings-from-an-ongoing-longitudinal-observational-study-for-prodromal-parkinsons-disease-in-farmers-exposed-to-pesticides/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/pest-pd-preliminary-findings-from-an-ongoing-longitudinal-observational-study-for-prodromal-parkinsons-disease-in-farmers-exposed-to-pesticides/