Abstract
Certain exposures related to agricultural work have been associated with neurological disorders. To date, few studies have included brain health measurements to link specific risk factors with possible neural mechanisms. Moreover, a synthesis of agricultural risk factors associated with poorer brain health outcomes is missing. In this systematic review, we identified 106 articles using keywords related to agriculture, occupational exposure, and the brain. We identified seven major risk factors: non-specific factors that are associated with agricultural work itself, toluene, pesticides, heavy metal or dust exposure, work with farm animals, and nicotine exposure from plants. Of these, pesticides are the most highly studied. The majority of qualifying studies were epidemiological studies. Nigral striatal regions were the most well studied brain area impacted. Of the three human neuroimaging studies we found, two focused on functional networks and the third focused on gray matter. We identified two major directions for future studies that will help inform preventative strategies for brain health in vulnerable agricultural workers: (1) the effects of moderators such as type of work, sex, migrant status, race, and age; and (2) more comprehensive brain imaging studies, both observational and experimental, involving several imaging techniques.
Highlights
Agriculture represents a critically important sector of the workforce
Agriculture has more workers over the age of 55 than any other industry [3], and workers in agriculture are at increased risk for psychiatric and neurological disorders compared to other professions [4]
The primary aim of this article is to systematically review the literature to identify both known and putative risk factors for poor brain health that are associated with agricultural work
Summary
Agriculture represents a critically important sector of the workforce. almost27% of the global workforce is currently employed in agriculture [1]. Agriculture has more workers over the age of 55 than any other industry [3], and workers in agriculture are at increased risk for psychiatric and neurological disorders compared to other professions [4] Despite these concerns, agricultural workers are underrepresented in brain related research [5–8]. People working in agriculture have some of the highest rates of brain cancer and Parkinson’s disease [9–11], 46% greater odds of having dementia [12], and increased rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide [13–16]. These risks may be associated with central nervous system dysfunction; for example, agriculturalists have been found to experience a higher risk of impaired neurobehavioral, neuromotor, or neurocognitive performance [17]
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