PARKINSON’S AND ALZHEIMER’S
TOXIC EXPOSURE
Frequent herbicide use can triple risk of Parkinson’s.1
Increased levels of the pesticide dieldrin are found in Parkinson’s.2
Fungicides/solvents such as carbon disulfide, chlorinated solvents can cause Parkinson-like tremors as
well as respiratory damage. 3
Chronic free radical injury can lead to Alzheimer’s disease.4 Neurologic injury from solvents,5 6
VOC’5 6 and pesticides 3 6 7 increases risk of Parkinson’s disease.8 9
NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES
Persons with poorer detoxification ability are more likely to develop degenerative neurologic
change.10 11 Toxic exposed persons are more susceptible to develop Parkinson’s12 as well as
Alzheimer’s disease.13 There is significant diagnostic overlap of Parkinson’s with neurodegenerative
diagnostic labels.11
HOW IS BIOCHEMISTRY CHANGED IN NEURODEGENERATION?
The mechanism involves chronic increased free radicals.4 5 6 7 This stimulates the NMDA
Receptor4 5 6 7 and thus creates a vicious biochemical cycle (of nitric oxide and peroxynitrite)
resembling neural sensitization.
Increased nitric oxide and peroxynitrite occurs in neurodegenerative diseases.14 15 16 Thus toxic
exposure which increases nitric oxide/peroxynitrite could increase Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other
neurodegenerative disease. These toxins include petrochemicals such as VOCs and solvents17 18
carbon monoxide19 20 formaldehyde 21 22 and inhaled particles. 21 23 24
Some studies show reduced Parkinson’s with increased antioxidant intake. 25
TREATMENT
While symptom-making drugs are still widely used to “treat” neurodegenerative diseases, better
biochemical understanding helps more healing approaches. It is possible to test affected persons (e.g.,
SpectraCell Laboratory FIA 5000 panel) to see which essential nutrients are too depleted to help cell
repair.
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Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s
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L Schuster, “Frequent use of herbicides may triple the risk of Parkinson’s Family Practice News Feb 15, 1993.
L Fleming etal, “Parkinson’s disease and brain levels of organochlorine pesticides”, Ann Neurol 36: 100-103, 1994.
3 CG Matthews etal, “Differential neuropsychologic profiles in idiopathic versus pesticide-induced Parkinsonism”, In
Advances in Neurobehavioral Toxicology, B Johnson, Editor, Lewis Publishers, 1990.
4 WK Summers, “Alzheimer’s disease, oxidative injury and cytokines”, J Alzheimer’s Disease 6: 673-681, 2004.
5 G Hageman etal, “Parkinsonism pyramidal signs, polyneuropathy and cognitive decline, after long-term occupational
exposure: J Neurol 246: 198-206, 1999.
6 CG Ohlson, C Hogstedt, “Parkinson’s disease and occupational exposure to solvents, agricultural chemicals and
mercury – a case-referent study”, Scand J Work Environ Health 7: 252-256, 1981.
7 F Kemal and JA Hoppin, “Association of pesticide exposure and neurologic disease”, Environ Health Persp 112: 950-958, 2004.
8 A Barbeau, M Roy, “Genetic susceptibility, environmental factors and Parkinson’s disease”, 8 th International Symposium on
Parkinson’s Disease, New York, NY, June 9-12, 1985.
9 A Bocchetta and GU Corsini, “Parkinson’s disease and pesticides”, Lancet 11: 1163, 1986.
10 BG Steventon, etal, “Xenobiotic metabolism in motor neuron disease”, Lancet Sept. 17, 1988.
11 GB Steventon etal, Xenobiotic metabolism in Parkinson’s disease”, Neurology 34: 883-887, 1989.
12 Editorial, “Parkinson’s disease: one illness or many syndromes”, Lancet 339: 1263-1264, 1992.
13 GB Steventon etal, “Xenobiotic metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease”, Neurology 40: 1095-1098, 1990.
14 SJ Heales etal, “Nitric oxide, mitochondria and neurologic disease”, Biochim Biophys 1410: 215-228, 1999.
15 VL Dawson and TM Dawson, “Nitric oxide neurotoxicity”, J Chem Neuroanat 10: 179-190, 1996.
16 F Torreiles etal, “Neurodegenerative disorders: the role of peroxynitrite”, Brain Res Rev, 30: 153-163, 1999.
17 TR Garbe and H Yukama, “Common solvent toxicity” auto oxidation of respiratory redox-cyclers enforced by membrane
derangement”, Z Natur Forsch 56: 438-491, 2001.
18 CJ Mattia, etal, “Toluene-induced oxidative stress in several brain regions and other organs”, Mol Chem Neurophysiol
18: 313-328, 1993.
19 SR Thom etal, “Neuronal nitric oxide synthase and n-methyl-d-aspartate neurons in experimental carbon monoxide poisoning”,
Toxicol Applied Pharmacol 194: 280-295, 2004.
20 RE Lenga, Ed., Sigma-Aldrich Library of Chemical Safety Data. Sigma-Aldrich Corp., 1988.
21 JE Haley etal, “Evidence for spinal n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor involvement in prolonged chemical nociception in the rat”,
Brain Res 518: 218-226, 1990.
22 SB McMahon etal, “Central excitability triggered by noxious inputs”, Current Opin Neurobiol 3: 602-610, 1993.
23 F Therese, etal “Exhaled nitric oxide in children with asthma and short-term PM
2,5 exposure in Seattle”, Environ Health Persp
113: 1791-1794, 2005.
24 S Dubowski Adar etal “Ambient and micro environmental particles and exhaled nitric oxide before and after a group bus
trip”, Environ Health Persp 115: 507-512, 2007.
25 JM Gorrell etal, “The role of the environment in Parkinson’s disease”, Environ Health Persp 104: 652, 1999.
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