In this episode of the Brain Health Kitchen Podcast, Dr. Annie Fenn sits down with neurologist and public health advocate Dr. Ray Dorsey to explore the growing global burden of Parkinson’s disease—and what we can do to prevent it.

Drawing on decades of research, Dr. Dorsey explains how Parkinson’s is increasingly understood as a largely preventable disease driven by environmental exposures, including pesticides, industrial chemicals, air pollution, and contaminated water. The conversation explores how the disease may begin outside the brain and what individuals, communities, and policymakers can do to reduce risk.

Dr. Dorsey also shares practical steps from his new book The Parkinson’s Plan, offering actionable strategies to protect brain health across the lifespan.

• Why Parkinson’s disease is rising dramatically worldwide
• The environmental and man-made causes of Parkinson’s
• Early warning signs and the gut–brain connection
• How pesticides, air pollution, food, and water exposures increase risk
• The Parkinson’s 25: practical lifestyle steps to reduce risk
• The role of exercise in prevention and slowing disease progression
• Why early childhood exposures matter for lifelong brain health
• Policy and public health solutions to reduce toxic exposures

Resources & Links

Books

• The Parkinson’s Plan: A New Path to Prevention and Treatment
  https://pdplan.org/ (The Parkinson's Plan)

Brain Health Kitchen

• Brain Health Kitchen website
  https://brainhealthkitchen.com
• Brain Health Kitchen Substack
  https://brainhealthkitchen.substack.com

Sponsors

Neuroreserve https://neuroreserve.com/

BetterBrain https://www.betterbrain.com/

Connect with Dr. Ray Dorsey

Instagram

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-dorsey-md-mba/

Twitter / X
https://twitter.com/RayDorseyMD

Connect with Dr. Annie Fenn

Website
https://brainhealthkitchen.substack.com

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniefennmd/

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/brainhealthkitchen/