None of this bodes well for the future.

It doesn't. But we do learn. If we are, in fact, poisoning our environment, it will be a great lesson to us. It will make the asbestos scare look like small potatoes. Imagine if we find out that fire retardant chemicals are really a root cause of the increase in autism. Think of how hard it's going to be to get rid of them. They're everywhere. In every appliance, every computer console, the telephone you're holding to your ear.

In spite of this, do you feel optimistic about the future?

When you're older, there's a tendency to be a little bit pessimistic. You wonder if the human race is smart enough to deal with these problems before they do us in. I think we need to be slapped around a few times. Actually, we have been, but have we learned from it? I wouldn't bet the farm on that. But I'm very optimistic about translational neuroscience doing more and more good in the world. And really, that's all I can control.

Dr. Michael Merzenich is also founder of PositScience, technology software developed to improve the cognitive skills of older adults.