Explosive increase in Parkinson's accidents with agricultural poison as a possible cause
The number of people with Parkinson's disease is increasing exponentially worldwide. This is evident from recent research published in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet.
It was previously announced that the number of Parkinson's accidents has doubled in 25 years and this is expected to happen again in 2040. In the Netherlands, the number of patients has increased by no less than 30 percent in ten years. Neurologists now even see a possible acceleration of this trend. In the past four years, the number of diagnoses at five collaborating hospitals has increased by 25 percent, according to neurologist Bas Bloem of Radboud UMC. New research shows that the number of Parkinson's patients worldwide has risen to 11,8 million in 2021, compared to 6,2 million five years earlier. This indicates a dramatic increase, according to several hundred researchers who used the same measurement method as in 2016.
Parkinson's is a progressive condition that impairs motor skills, thinking, sexuality, urination, defecation and sleep. Although the disease is not fatal, it has a devastating impact on patients' daily lives. According to Bloem, there is still underdiagnosis worldwide, which means that the actual numbers are probably even higher. Bloem emphasizes that the disease is largely avoidable. In a recent study, he and his American colleague summarized the links between Parkinson's and environmental pollution, especially the use of agricultural poisons. In areas with high use of pesticides, such as the wine regions in France and the Dutch bulb region, Parkinson's is more common.
A notorious example of a neurotoxic agricultural poison is paraquat, which was introduced in the 50s and 60s and has been banned in the Netherlands since 2007. However, exposure to such toxins can lead to Parkinson's decades later. Glyphosate, a successor to paraquat, is still permitted and there are indications that this drug is also linked to Parkinson's disease.
According to Bloem, the biggest problem is that the safety of glyphosate was not properly investigated when it was authorized by the European Food Safety Authority. Despite the Dutch ban on paraquat, the growth of Parkinson's disease in countries where the drug is still permitted, such as the US, remains alarmingly high.
The explosive growth in the number of Parkinson's patients worldwide requires urgent attention to the role of environmental pollution and agricultural poisons. Preventive measures and stricter regulations are necessary to prevent further increases in this devastating disease. The health of millions of people depends on how quickly and effectively we tackle these threats.
The main symptoms of Parkinson's disease can vary, but the most common are:
- Tremors: Trembling of the hands, arms, legs, jaw or head. This is often the most recognizable symptom and usually starts in a limb, often in the hand or fingers, even when at rest.
- Bradykinesia: Slowed movements. This can make everyday tasks difficult and can lead to a reduced ability to make spontaneous movements, such as swinging the arms while walking.
- Muscle stiffness: Muscle stiffness in the limbs and trunk, which can lead to pain and limited range of motion. The muscles can remain constantly tense, making movements difficult and painful.
- Postural instability: Impaired balance and coordination, which can lead to falls. People with Parkinson's often have problems maintaining their balance and may develop a hunched posture.
- Decreased facial expression: An expressionless face, also called a 'mask face', where the person blinks less often and has a rigid, emotionless facial expression.
- Changes in speech: Soft, monotonous speech or halting, hesitant speech. People with Parkinson's may have difficulty speaking clearly and fluently.
- Problems with writing: Handwriting may become small and irregular, a phenomenon called micrographia.
Other symptoms may include:
- Sleep problems: Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, vivid dreams and restless sleep.
- Cognitive changes: Problems with planning and organization, slowed thinking, memory problems.
- Mood disorders: Depression, anxiety and emotional changes.
- Problems with swallowing and chewing: These may develop as the disease progresses.
- Changes in the sense of smell: Loss of sense of smell can be an early symptom.
- Constipation and digestive problems: Common non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's.
Each of these symptoms can vary in severity and rate of progression among individuals with Parkinson's disease.
Source: NOS.nl
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Pollution and the use of poisons in agriculture certainly play an important role.
Excessive spraying of the garden with poison to get rid of insects could also play a role.
But there is more. The very high carbohydrate content in our current diet and the use of industrially produced vegetable oils make our cells throughout our body (but also in our brain) metabolically unhealthy, causing the brain to receive insufficient energy and nutrients.
Although Paraquat and Glyphosate are both weed killers (herbicides), we also see cases of Alzheimer's in the Kool construction areas, mainly due to fungicides, which are usually used to suppress fungi.
The Netherlands is not ahead of the curve in banning such substances
Vegetables will always have to be washed well if their origin is not known
My wife Maud has Parkinson's and we strongly suspect that she contracted it during the monthly plague check.
Every month for 15 years, a company came to spray our house and garden from top to bottom with poison. Maud always sat on top of them (without mouth protection) to see if they were doing it right.
When Bas Bloem diagnosed Maud with Parkinson's 6 years ago, the connection was made with the poison from the plague control.
We immediately stopped pest control and have never had any problems with termites or other insects.
If you do have pest control done, ventilate the house for 2-4 hours and stay away.
In fact, it was discovered years ago that there is a proportionally higher incidence of Parkinson's in the French wine regions.
Here in Spain and especially in Thailand, I hardly see any protection from injecting poison.
In Spain, farmers sit in open tractors and spray the poison in huge clouds into the treetops.
Mainly grapes and citrus trees.
How is it possible that there is still so little information and protection available, even in EU countries?
Some years ago, Thailand planned to ban some notorious weed killers.
That plan was withdrawn under threat of US economic sanctions.