Racette Laboratory
Our research laboratory focuses on the environmental epidemiology of Parkinson disease (PD). Our primary focus is the role of neurotoxic metals in the pathogenesis of parkinsonism. The primary areas of research in our laboratory include a worksite based studies of parkinsonism in welders, imaging biomarkers of parkinsonism in Mn-exposed workers, neuropathology of Mn miners, occupational risk factors for PD in Finland, and the use of administrative data (Medicare) to understand demographic and environmental risk factors for PD. The ultimate goal of our laboratory is to identify modifiable risk factors for PD that would be amenable to a primary prevention approach to reduce population disease burden. A summary of this concept can be found in the following manuscript: