Neurology, Addiction and Psychiatry Conference

Neurotoxicology is a specialization in the field of toxicology and refers to studying the effects produced by toxic substances on the nervous system in general and on the brain and the spinal cord in particular. Neurotoxic agents encompass heavy metals, pesticides, solvents, as well as many other drugs that can cause neurotoxicity primarily by damaging nerve cells or neurons affecting serious disruption in neurological functions. It is at this juncture that the understanding of the effects of such environmental toxins, industrial chemicals, and even some drugs used in the treatment process on the CNS and PNS is justified to study this area.

Manifestations of neurotoxicity are many varied ranging from very slight symptoms to much more severe ones causing permanent neurological damage. Examples include lead, mercury, arsenic, organophosphates, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These chemical substances have been associated with a large number of neurodegenerative diseases, which include the likes of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and ALS. Neurotoxicology encompasses not only the mechanism whereby these agents cause neuronal damage but also extends further into the mechanisms that are in place, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation.

There has thus been an important area of neurotoxicology in the identification of biomarkers that could be used to detect early changes in neurotoxicity with the possibility to better prevent and intervene. Early detection is also crucial as most symptoms present themselves after quite significant damage has been done. As such research into the role of genetics in neurotoxicity is an important area because susceptibility varies greatly among individuals.

At the policy level as well as at the operational level in the prevention and reduction of the occurrence of neurotoxicity range from exposure reduction to hazardous substances, safer industrial and agricultural chemicals, and promotion of neuroprotective therapies. For instance, chelation therapy is a treatment whereby heavy metals are removed from the body, and the latter has filed applications for lead or mercury poisoning cases. Research is already conducted on such potential antioxidants and other chemicals that could protect the neuron from toxic damage.

Whereby industrialization and chemical usage continues to spread globally, the need to understand the impact of neurotoxic agents becomes paramount. Neurotoxicology will be found at the very core of safer environment creation, minimized public health risk, and new therapeutic strategies to protect the nervous system from toxic harm.