87% of Parkinson’s Cases Have No Genetic Cause: It’s in Our Environment | Dr. Ray Dorsey

Today we’re exploring one of the most important and preventable neurological challenges of our time: Parkinson’s disease. My guest is Dr. Ray Dorsey, a world-renowned neurologist, researcher, and New York Times bestselling author. He has dedicated his career to understanding, treating, and, most importantly, preventing Parkinson’s. His new book, The Parkinson’s Plan, offers a bold and hopeful message: Parkinson’s disease is not inevitable, and it’s not primarily genetic.

In this conversation, Dr. Dorsey dispels one of the most entrenched myths in medicine, that Parkinson’s is simply the result of bad luck or bad genes. Instead, he presents compelling data showing that environmental toxins are the leading drivers of the world’s fastest-growing brain disorder. Chief among them is paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide still used widely in American agriculture, despite being banned in dozens of countries because of its strong links to Parkinson’s. He also discusses other common exposures, from trichloroethylene (a degreasing solvent found in dry cleaning and household products) to air pollution, and how these hidden hazards are silently reshaping global neurological health.

But what makes Dr. Dorsey’s message so powerful is that it’s not just a warning, it’s a call to action. He gives us practical tools and evidence-based strategies to reduce our risk, protect our families, and advocate for change. From choosing cleaner foods and safer water sources to supporting environmental reform and promoting early detection, his approach empowers individuals and communities alike.

This episode is about transforming awareness into prevention. Parkinson’s may be on the rise, but as Dr. Dorsey shows, it doesn’t have to be. His work reminds us that protecting brain health begins with understanding what we can control, and taking those steps today. You’ll come away from this conversation informed, inspired, and ready to take part in reshaping the future of neurological well-being.

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Dr. Ray Dorsey is a neurologist, researcher, and public health advocate working to end Parkinson’s disease by addressing its root causes: toxic environmental exposures. He is the founding Director of the Center for the Brain & Environment at Atria Health and Research Institute and serves as Professor of Neurology at the University of Rochester. Dr. Dorsey has testified before Congress, advised the World Health Organization, and was recognized by the White House as a “Champion for Change.” He is the co-author of Ending Parkinson’s Disease (2020) and the New York Times bestseller, The Parkinson’s Plan: A New Path to Prevention and Treatment (2025).

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