25 Years Dutch Solvent Team project in diagnostic evaluation of chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy, what did it bring?

Over the past 25 years, the Dutch Solvent Team project has made a substantial contribution to the diagnostic evaluation of chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy (CSE). This commentary provides a chronological overview of the project's development, highlighting advances in multidisciplinary diagnostics, retrospective exposure assessment, neuropsychological evaluation, prevention, and policy development. The project contributed to the development of national policy and international consensus guidelines, resulting in improved diagnostic consistency and a marked decline in disease incidence. The association between long-term occupational solvent exposure and CSE is supported by epidemiological, clinical, and toxicological evidence and by the substantial reduction in incidence following preventive measures. Despite these achievements, important challenges remain, including the absence of a gold-standard diagnostic test, limited understanding of individual susceptibility, and the lack of effective long-term treatment options. Future directions include further refinement of retrospective exposure assessment methods, investigation of susceptibility factors, and the development of objective diagnostic tools.