Is the rising incidence of Parkinson’s disease connected to the chemicals in our environment? In this episode of the Parkinson’s Policy Podcast, we sit down with the renowned Dr. Deborah Cory-Slechta, Professor of Environmental Medicine, Pediatrics, and Neuroscience at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Dr. Cory-Slechta breaks down decades of pioneering research into how environmental exposures including agricultural pesticides like Paraquat, industrial solvents, heavy metals, and fine particulate air pollution impact dopamine neurons and elevate the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. We also discuss critical gaps in regulatory policy, environmental justice concerns, and actionable steps needed to protect public health.

In this episode of the Parkinson’s Policy Podcast, we sit down with Pennsylvania State Representative Jennifer O’Mara (PA HD-165) to explore key policy pathways for supporting the Parkinson’s community. From capitol halls to local communities, we examine how legislative action can transform research and expand healthcare access. We discuss how lawmakers can build cross-party coalitions to prioritize sustained funding for Parkinson’s research, caregiver support, and community services. We also chat about specific policy tools and state-level strategies Pennsylvania can leverage to ensure equitable access to specialist care, movement disorder neurologists, and telehealth services across both rural regions and urban centers.

In this powerful episode of the Parkinson’s Policy Podcast, we are joined by Pennsylvania State Representative Valerie Gaydos. Rep. Gaydos brings a deeply personal perspective to health policy: her late mother, Martha, battled Parkinson’s disease for over 15 years. Today, Rep. Gaydos is channeling that experience into legislative leadership as a strong voice in the push to ban paraquat, a toxic herbicide linked by scientific research to an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.

We dive into how state-level policies can address environmental risk factors, how lawmakers and advocacy organizations can build effective coalitions, and what everyday constituents can do to move the needle toward better care and an eventual cure.