Paraquat and the Link to Parkinson’s Disease (Part II):
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive disorder of the central nervous system. The disorder affects movement and causes tremors, shaking, and balance, and coordination issues. As the disease progresses, people may have difficulty walking and talking. Eventually, non-motor symptoms appear, such as confusion, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and dementia. While researchers can’t yet pinpoint what begins the brain’s progression towards Parkinson’s Disease, we do know that the use of some pesticides, including the popular Paraquat, greatly increase the risk of developing the disease.In Part I, an earlier blog post discussed the dangers of Paraquat, its toxicity, and the link between long-term Paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s Disease. In this blog, we’ll delve more deeply into the science linking Paraquat to Parkinson’s Disease and how the disease develops.
What Causes Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease occurs when neurons in the part of the brain controlling movement die or become impaired. These neurons normally produce dopamine, an important chemical needed by your brain to communicate and control movement. Scientists still don’t know what causes dopamine-producing cells to die.Parkinson’s patients also lose nerve endings producing norepinephrine, a chemical messenger of the nervous system controlling bodily functions such as heart rate and blood pressure. Parkinson’s brain cells also contain Lewy bodies, which are unusual clumps of the protein alpha-synuclein. The presence of this protein can lead to Lewy body dementia.
Parkinson’s Disease and Paraquat
While we don’t know the specific mechanism that kills the brain’s dopamine-producing neurons in Parkinson’s patients, we know that people exposed to Paraquat over long periods are much more likely to develop the disease. A 2011 National Institutes of Health study also found a link between two pesticides, including Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease. People who used Paraquat developed Parkinson’s disease “approximately 2.5 times more often than non-users.”Similarly, a 2009 study from the Department of Health Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley, built on evidence from animal and cell models suggesting pesticides like Paraquat cause a neurodegenerative process leading to Parkinson’s disease. The study added to the evidence that exposure to Paraquat increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease, particularly in younger subjects and when exposure occurs at younger ages.While we don’t know the mechanism behind Parkinson’s disease, we know that those exposed to Paraquat are much more likely to develop the disease. If you or a loved one were harmed by Paraquat exposure, leading to Parkinson’s or poisoning, we may be able to help. Contact the Madeksho Law Firm through our online form, or give us a call at 1-888-910-6376 to set up a consultation. Your initial consultation is always free, and you never pay a fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
