What Are The Causes
Drug-induced parkinsonism is caused by medications that reduce dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that works to control bodily movements.
Dopamine is also part of the brains reward system. It helps you feel pleasure and enjoyment, and it supports your ability to learn and focus.
Medications that bind to and block dopamine receptors are called dopamine antagonists. These medications arent used to treat Parkinsons disease. Rather, theyre used to treat other conditions that might seriously impact your quality of life.
If your doctor has prescribed a medication that causes unwanted side effects, you may have options. You may also decide that the side effects are worth it if the medication effectively treats your condition.
Some medications that cause drug-induced parkinsonism include:
Exposure To Environmental Toxins May Be Root Of Rise In Neurological Disorders
Doctors warn exposure to omnipresent yet poorly understood chemicals such as microplastics could play a role in dementia
The mystery behind the astronomical rise in neurological disorders like Parkinsons disease and Alzheimers could be caused by exposure to environmental toxins that are omnipresent yet poorly understood, leading doctors warn.
At a conference on Sunday, the countrys leading neurologists and neuroscientists will highlight recent research efforts to fill the gaping scientific hole in understanding of the role environmental toxins air pollution, pesticides, microplastics, forever chemicals and more play in increasingly common diseases like dementias and childhood developmental disorders.
Humans may encounter a staggering 80,000 or more toxic chemicals as they work, play, sleep and learn so many that it is almost impossible to determine their individual effects on a person, let alone how they may interact or the cumulative impacts on the nervous system over a lifespan.
Some contact with environmental toxins is inevitable given the proliferation of plastics and chemical pollutants, as well as Americas hands off regulatory approach, but exposure is unequal.
In the US, communities of color, Indigenous people and low income families are far more likely to be exposed to a myriad of pollutants through unsafe housing and water, manufacturing and agricultural jobs, and proximity to roads and polluting industrial plants, among other hazards.
What Causes Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsons disease is a chronic, progressive neurological disease that currently affects about 1 million Americans. Parkinsons disease involves a small, dark-tinged portion of the brain called the substantia nigra. This is where you produce most of the dopamine your brain uses. Dopamine is the chemical messenger that transmits messages between nerves that control muscle movements as well as those involved in the brains pleasure and reward centers. As we age, its normal for cells in the substantia nigra to die. This process happens in most people at a very slow rate.
But for some people, the loss happens rapidly, which is the start of Parkinsons disease. When 50 to 60 percent of the cells are gone, you begin to see the symptoms of Parkinsons.
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A Historic Perspective On Parkinsons Disease And Its Relation With Toxic And Protective Environmental Substances
The English physician James Parkinson in his work An essay on the Shaking Palsy described PD for the first time in 1817. This correlates well with the beginning of the industrial and chemical revolution in Europe during the late 18th century and the 19th century. To our knowledge, only the Ayuverda and the first Chinese manuscript on medicine, Nei Ping, written 2500 years ago, describe some of the symptoms observed in PD and potential treatments . Apart from this reference to PD-related symptoms, no other physician in any of the occidental countries had previously described the complex amalgam of symptoms typical of this disorder. This suggests that either these different symptoms had always been misdiagnosed as separate entities throughout history, not recognized as part of a syndrome, or the prevalence of PD until the beginning of the 19th century had been extremely low. While possible, the first hypothesis seems quite improbable to us. Many PD symptoms are quite striking and would have been described and published before Parkinsons assay. Therefore, we believe that a dramatic increase of PD cases occurred in parallel to the industrial revolution. In this case, the question is, why?
Remarkably, in some populations there has been a decreasing prevalence of certain types of neurodegenerative diseases that coincide with the disappearance of an environmental factor unique to these populations .
Preventing Parkinsons Disease: An Environmental Agenda
Article type: Review Article
Authors: De Miranda, Briana R.a * | Goldman, Samuel M.b | Miller, Gary W.c | Greenamyre, J. Timothyd | Dorsey, E. Raye
Affiliations: Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA | Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, School of Medicine, University of CaliforniaSan Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA | Department of Environmnetal Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA | Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA | Center for Health+Technology and Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
Correspondence: Correspondence to: Briana De Miranda, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1719 6th Avenue South, CIRC 560, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. Tel.: +1 205 996 2138 E-mail: .
Keywords: Parkinsons disease, environment, pesticides, metals, chlorinated solvents, air pollution, preclinical research, clinical research
DOI: 10.3233/JPD-212922
Journal: Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 45-68, 2022
Abstract
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We Help Veterans Obtain Benefits Due To Environmental Exposure That Had A Devastating Impact On Their Health
Our team of experts has extensive knowledge of the current laws which allows us to position veterans claims for success.
For example, Marine veteran Dean W. is a 71-year-old man who developed Parkinsons disease years after being stationed at Camp Lejeune. He spent 3 months at the base. Mr. Dean has tried to make claims for help before with the VA, but every claim was denied.
This story could be about anyone who was on that site between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987. Parkinsons disease is just one of the illnesses associated with exposure to the military bases poisoned wells.
Following our assistance, Mr. Dean obtained disability benefits that had previously been denied. If you are a veteran who is having difficulty obtaining benefits, Atraxia Law may be able to help you.
From the 1950s to the mid-1980s, thousands of service members and their families were exposed to contaminated water on military installations. In order to qualify for presumptive disability benefits, you must:
- be a veteran, reservist, or National Guard member who was discharged under other than dishonorable conditions
- have served on a targeted base, for at least 30 days , between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987
- have a current disease on the list of presumptive conditions, such as Parkinsons disease.
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Pesticide And Herbicide Exposure
A strong link has been shown between PD and exposure to pesticides and herbicides. We need more Parkinsons-specific research to better understand what causes PD and to work to prevent it and help eliminate the risk of getting the disease, when it comes to all environmental risk factors and whether genetics can cause an increased risk in developing Parkinsons.
One herbicide that has been linked to Parkinsons is paraquat, a widely used commercial herbicide in the U.S. that is banned in 32 countries, including the European Union and China. The Parkinsons Foundation, along with the Unified Parkinsons Advocacy Council, signed two letters to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency encouraging them to cancel the registration of paraquat based on strong scientific research linking the herbicide to Parkinsons disease. In October 2020, the EPA re-approved paraquat for use in the U.S. Without additional action, paraquat will remain legal for sale and use in the U.S. for the next 15 years.
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Parkinson’s Disease Due To Toxic Exposure On Military Bases
Chemical exposure through drinking water can lead to a variety of chronic health conditions that worsen over time and require years of medical management.
It was in the 1980s that volatile organic compounds such as trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene , PFAS, including perfluorooctanoic acid , and perflurooctane sulfonate , aromatic solvents such as benzene, and other organic compounds such as vinyl chloride were detected in groundwater at hundreds of military bases nationwide.
Six hundred and seventy-eight this is the number of U.S. military installations with a known or suspected per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances release, according to the Environmental Working Group’s updated analysis of Defense Department records.
Among the ever-expanding group of synthetic chemicals, PFOS and PFOA are the two most notorious members. These substances have been linked to several types of cancer, weakened childhood immunity, kidney and thyroid disease, and other serious health problems at fairly low doses.
PFOS and PFOA were traced to the firefighting foam that was used for decades at military facilities and contaminated potable water sources on the bases and in neighboring communities. The chemicals from firefighting foam stay and spread in the environment, and have become a major contributor to drinking water contamination across the nation.
Is There A Common Toxic Mechanism In All These Models That Leads To Neurodegeneration
One of the common effects exerted by most of these noxious compounds tested above is the inhibition of mitochondrial NADH CoQ reductase, also known as Complex I, and the production of free radicals, thereby also increasing cellular oxidative stress. The first association between a mitochondrial alteration and PD was made in 1989. Two different groups showed a defect in Complex I activity from SN neurons in PD patients . Later studies have shown that there is an approximately 35% defect in the mitochondrial complex I activity . This deficiency is also present in platelets from PD patients . As mentioned above, a study published in 2011 underlines the importance of Complex I inhibition and oxidative stress in PD pathophysiology in patients. In an epidemiological study, Tanner and colleagues observed in 110 PD cases and 358 controls that PD was strongly associated with the use of a group of pesticides that inhibit mitochondrial complex I, including rotenone, and with the use of a group of pesticides that cause oxidative stress, including paraquat .
Figure 2
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Rise In Parkinsons Disease Linked To Common Household Chemical
Scientists believe a ubiquitous environmental contaminant used in household products such as carpet cleaners, shoe polishes, and carpet cleaners might be responsible for the development of neurodegenerative movement disorders such as Parkinsons disease . Parkinsons disease is already one of the fastest-growing neurological disorders globally, with developing nations reporting an increase of over 30% in the last ten years. The number expects to double again in the next 25 years. Currently, many cases of Parkinsons disease are diagnosed as idiopathic , Yet leading neurologists believe that one of the primary reasons for the rapid growth is due to a universal organic solvent is known as Trichloroethylene .
Veterans Exposed To Toxic Chemicals At Military Bases Risk Developing Parkinsons
Accumulating evidence suggests that long-term exposure to trichloroethylene may cause deficits in energy, mood, memory, attention, and psychomotor functioning. In addition, some research suggests that exposure to TCE is associated with a significantly increased risk of Parkinson’s diseasea nervous system disorder that deteriorates a persons ability to control their movement over time.
Parkinsons disease can be difficult to initially detect as early symptoms are subtle and occur gradually. Unfortunately, no cure for Parkinsons disease exists today, but treatments are available to help relieve the symptoms and maintain a good quality of life.
Researchers based their studies on previous findings, which show that exposure to environmental toxins may raise the risk of developing the disease by increasing the rate of oxidative stressan imbalance between free radical activity and antioxidant activity, which can lead to cell and tissue damage. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons leading to neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease.
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Environmental Factors In Parkinsons Disease
Here are environmental factors that may play a role in the development of Parkinsons disease:
Although environmental exposure to these and other toxins is of continued research interest, its hard to determine if any one substance is a culprit. Most often, individual cases of Parkinsons disease result from a complex interplay between genetics and environmental and other factors.
The Ghosts Of Pesticides Past
Over the past half century, we have begun to identify the worst risks and address them. The insecticide DDT was once considered a miracle compound. In the 1930s, the Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Müller was looking for a chemical that could kill insects that were destroying crops and spreading diseasewithout harming the plants. Müller, a nature lover, tested hundreds of chemicals before coating the inside of a glass box with DDT, a colorless, tasteless, and almost odorless nerve toxin. He placed houseflies into the container, and they bit the dust. Müller had found his answer.
In the 1940s DDT was considered harmless to humans and regularly sprayed on neighborhoods here children play in the sprays at the beach in New York. Even though DDT was banned half a century ago, it persists in the environmentand in our food supply. It becomes more concentrated as it makes its way up the chain to human consumption. The pesticide is then stored in fatty tissues, including the brain. DDT has been linked to Parkinsons disease. Because of the widespread use of the pesticide, DDT and its breakdown products are detectable in nearly everyone in the United States. It has also been found in the breast milk of women living in Spain, Nicaragua, Taiwan, and the Spanish Canary Islands as recently as 2014.
Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo
We eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains every day that have been doused in pesticides. What kind of risk are we all exposed to? We do not know.
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A Discussion Of How Environmental Factors Such As Pesticides May Affect Your Risk Of Parkinsons Disease
During my recent interview on Wisconsin Public Radio, many of the callers asked questions related to environmental risks of Parkinsons disease , specifically, exposures related to farming. Those calls prompted me to delve further into this complicated and murky topic.
Before we start discussing specific factors in the environment that may increase risk of PD, lets understand some basic ground rules that will help put this topic in perspective
With that background, let us begin.
How Environmental Factors Could Cause Parkinsons Disease
Scientists differ about the extent that brain cells are impacted by environmental factors. However, the statistics associated with the disease show that the environment can play a very large role in whether parkinsons disease develops.
Most often, it is exposure to toxic chemicals that could play a role in the development of Parkinsons disease. Usually, these combine with genetic factors to produce the conditions that cause Parkinsons.
Increasing scientific evidence suggests that Parkinsons may be caused by environmental factors such as exposure to herbicides such as Paraquat.
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Diagnosis Of Parkinsons Disease
There are currently no blood or laboratory tests to diagnose non-genetic cases of Parkinsons. Doctors usually diagnose the disease by taking a persons medical history and performing a neurological examination. If symptoms improve after starting to take medication, its another indicator that the person has Parkinsons.
A number of disorders can cause symptoms similar to those of Parkinsons disease. People with Parkinsons-like symptoms that result from other causes, such as multiple system atrophy and dementia with Lewy bodies, are sometimes said to have parkinsonism. While these disorders initially may be misdiagnosed as Parkinsons, certain medical tests, as well as response to drug treatment, may help to better evaluate the cause. Many other diseases have similar features but require different treatments, so it is important to get an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible.
Lead Exposure Linked To Parkinsons Disease
UCLA Health interviewed Dr. Beate Ritz, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health professor of epidemiology and environmental health sciences, about research that indicates a link between lead exposure and Parkinsons disease, a neurological disease that affects movement, mood, and cognition
Lead is a poison that particularly affects the brain and nervous system. Exposure to lead in the environment can cause developmental and behavioral problems in young children its also harmful to adults.
Lifelong exposure levels, however, can be tricky to measure.
Now, a new study from UCLA Health has shown a link between lead exposure and Parkinsons disease. The study demonstrates a new method for measuring long-term lead exposure that is much easier than previous methods, and that could be modified to test for other environmental toxins.
Parkinsons is a neurological disease that affects movement, causing tremors, muscle stiffness, and difficulty moving, and also affects mood and cognition. The causes of Parkinsons are not fully understood, but exposure to environmental toxins has been shown to play a role. Studies of the effect of lead on Parkinsons disease have been inconclusive so far.
In the new study, UCLA researchers applied a new blood test that can measure long-term lead exposure using epigenetics.
There are millions of places in the DNA that can be methylated, and characteristics such as age or smoking habits create identifiable patterns of methylation.
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Evidence Obtained Using Toxic Models Of Pd
Based on the above-mentioned observations, numerous groups have tested the effect of environmental toxins on animal and in vitro cellular models. The most common models used up to date are:
Animal models
These have been extensively reviewed in the literature and we will briefly describe some of them here.