title: Pesticide exposure and risk of Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: Evidence suggests that lifelong cumulative exposure to pesticides may generate lasting toxic effects on the central nervous system and contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). A number of reports indicate a potential association between long-term/low-dose pesticide exposure and AD, but the results are inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to clarify this association. Relevant studies were identified according to inclusion criteria. Summary odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using fixed-effects models. A total of seven studies were included in our meta-analysis. A positive association was observed between pesticide exposure and AD (OR = 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08, 1.67; n = 7). The summary ORs with 95% CIs from the crude and adjusted effect size studies were 1.14 (95% CI = 0.94, 1.38; n = 7) and 1.37 (95% CI = 1.09, 1.71; n = 5), respectively. The sensitivity analyses of the present meta-analysis did not substantially modify the association between pesticide exposure and AD. Subgroup analyses revealed that high-quality studies tended to show significant relationships. The present meta-analysis suggested a positive association between pesticide exposure and AD, confirming the hypothesis that pesticide exposure is a risk factor for AD. Further high-quality cohort and case-control studies are required to validate a causal relationship.
authors: Department of Health Toxicology, MOE Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong-Road, Wuhan, 430030, PR China.
authors: Dandan
authors: D
authors: Yan
authors: Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, PR China.
authors: Yunjian
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong-Road, Wuhan, 430030, PR China.
authors: Liegang
authors: L
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Health Toxicology, MOE Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong-Road, Wuhan, 430030, PR China.
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Yan
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010575:Pesticides; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides