Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Commonly used organophosphate and organochlorine pesticides inhibit acetylcholinesterase at synapses in the somatic, autonomic, and central nervous systems and may therefore have lasting effects on the nervous system. Few studies have examined the relationship of pesticide exposure and risk of dementia or Alzheimer disease (AD). We sought to examine the association of occupational pesticide exposure and the risk of incident dementia and AD in later life. Methods Residents of the agricultural community of Cache County, UT, who were aged 65 years and older as of January 1995, were invited to participate in the study. At baseline, participants completed detailed occupational history questionnaires that included information about exposures to various types of pesticides. Cognitive status was assessed at baseline and after 3, 7, and 10 years. Standardized methods were used for detection and diagnosis of dementia and AD. Cox proportional hazards survival analyses were used to evaluate the risk of incident dementia and AD associated with pesticide exposure. Results Among 3,084 enrollees without dementia, more men than women reported pesticide exposure (p Conclusions Pesticide exposure may increase the risk of dementia and Alzheimer disease in late life.
Key findings
- Cox proportional hazards survival analyses were used to evaluate the risk of incident dementia and AD associated with pesticide exposure.
- Results Among 3,084 enrollees without dementia, more men than women reported pesticide exposure (p Conclusions Pesticide exposure may increase the risk of dementia and Alzheimer disease in late life.
Why it matters
This study found that people who reported occupational pesticide exposure may have a higher risk of later dementia and Alzheimer disease. It identifies a possible risk factor but does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Genetics →
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 54/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2010 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 388 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 21.6 citations a year over 18 year(s) since 2010 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 20.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 5 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 61 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Kathleen A. Welsh‐Bohmer: h-index 21 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | University of Washington: institution h-index 3,540 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 20458069) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 54 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181dd4423
- PubMed: 20458069
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — PubMed Central lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 10 Oct 2026).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Hayden, K. M., Norton, M. C., Darcey, D., Ostbye, T., Zandi, P. P., Breitner, J. C., et al. (2010). Occupational exposure to pesticides increases the risk of incident AD: the Cache County study. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181dd4423
Vancouver
Hayden KM, Norton MC, Darcey D, Ostbye T, Zandi PP, Breitner JC, et al. Occupational exposure to pesticides increases the risk of incident AD: the Cache County study. Neurology. 2010. doi:10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181dd4423. PMID: 20458069.
BibTeX
@article{hayden2010-20458069,
author = {Hayden, K. M. and Norton, M. C. and Darcey, D. and Ostbye, T. and Zandi, P. P. and Breitner, J. C. and Welsh-Bohmer, K. A. and {Cache County Study Investigators}},
title = {{Occupational exposure to pesticides increases the risk of incident AD: the Cache County study}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181dd4423},
pmid = {20458069},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181dd4423}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
Later studies that cite this one
5 studies in the alzhub library list this one in their references.
Related studies in Genetics
Also in Genetics
173 studies in the library are filed under Genetics with no topic tag they share with another; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed tour of them. The Genetics hub.