What Is Parkinson's Disease?
Parkinson's Disease is a very common degenerative, neurological disorder. Though it is commonly linked to dementia, people who develop it are not always likely to experience cognitive decline.
Parkinson's Disease is characterized by primary symptoms such as:
- Tremors
- Bad posture and poor balance
- Speech impediment
- Stiff musculature
- Hindrance of automated movements
- Trouble sleeping
- Cognitive difficulties (e.g. loss of memory, disordered thoughts, confusion)
Parkinson's Disease is more common than many might think, with about 1 million people living with the disease in just the United States alone. Internationally speaking, the number climbs even higher to a staggering 10 million of the world's population who have been affected. With the longer lifespans that humanity has enjoyed with the arrival of modern medicine and cleaner living, the numbers for Parkinson's Disease is expected to climb even higher as the years go on.
What Causes Parkinson's Disease?
While there is no definitive answer on what set roster of things act as a catalyst for the disease, genetics and environmental exposure are the known factors. That being said, this has led many people who are suffering or have someone they know who is suffering from Parkinson's Disease to look into their past and see what kind of exposures could have been the potential link.
How Much of a Link Do Pesticides Have With Parkinson's Disease?
In a study conducted by researchers at UCLA Health and Harvard,
53 of the original 288 pesticides tested were found to have a link to the disease. From there, 10 pesticide products were found to have a direct link to the neurological damage present in Parkinson's patients.
The products in question are:
- Dicofol
- Endosulfan
- Naled
- Propargite
- Diquat
- Endothall
- Trifluarlin
- Copper sulfate
- Folpet
Despite their shared threat to neuron functions, very few of these chemicals are of the same family. They are used for a variety of tasks and have barely any relation to one another. Adding onto this, a study from the National Library of Medicine presented evidence that showed certain methods of administration with Rotenone and Paraquat could have contributed to the onset of Parkinson's Disease in adults later on in their life.
Someone's profession or hobbies also help tilt the scales in favor of pesticides as a cause. Farmers, for instance, have a much higher chance of developing Parkinson's Disease later in life than others due to their employment of pesticides to keep insects from ruining their crops. Those who ingest a lot of alcohol also have a higher risk of developing Parkinson's Disease.
What are Ways to Help Prevent Parkinson's Disease?
Parkinson's Disease is something that ultimately can't be stopped. Since genetics is the largest factor in whether someone ends up with it or not, it is not something that can be completely avoided if you are genetically predisposed to it.
That being said, environmental exposure is also a big component in neurological disorders like Parkinson's. As mentioned previously, chemicals like pesticides play a big role. Chemicals, in general, should be used conservatively, such as bleach, ammonia, turpentine, etc. Despite the unpredictable nature of a degenerative disorder like Parkinson's Disease, it is best to take caution and avoid exposure to these types of products to minimize your risk of ever developing it.