Barrow On: The Impact of the Environment on Your Brain

Can a map help us understand neurological disease? In this episode of Barrow On The Brain, we explore the fascinating intersection of geography and neuroscience with Dr. Brittany Krzyzanowski—a geographer studying neurological disease at Barrow—and Dr. Brad Racette, chair of neurology at Barrow and a pioneer in environmental neurology. Discover how spatial epidemiology, maps of Parkinson’s prevalence, and clues from wind patterns, croplands, and air pollution are helping scientists investigate environmental risk factors like pesticides and heavy metals. From rural farming regions in the U.S. to manganese smelters in South Africa, this episode unpacks how neurological research can zoom in on communities, uncover hidden threats, and potentially change public health outcomes—one dot on the map at a time.