Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson’s Disease: The Emerging Pandemic

• Parkinson's disease is increasing faster than any other neurological disorder and is predicted to double to over 12 million by 2040.
• Neurological disorders are currently the leading source of disability worldwide, and Parkinson's is the fastest-growing in age-standardized rates of prevalence, disability, and deaths.
• Parkinson's disease was first described in 1817, and it was rare, with only six individuals diagnosed with the disease.
• The number of Americans aged 65 and older nearly quadrupled from 4.1 percent in 1900 to 16 percent in 2019, making aging the primary risk factor for Parkinson's disease.
• Environmental factors tied to the Industrial Revolution, such as air pollution, herbicides, and pesticides, are responsible for most Parkinson's disease cases.
• Exposure to paraquat herbicide, which generates reactive oxygen species and causes oxidative stress in the brain, is associated with a 150 percent increased risk of Parkinson's disease.
• Exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) is associated with a 500 percent increased risk of Parkinson's disease and can contaminate the air, water, and soil.
• Exposure to pesticides such as rotenone and organophosphates can increase the risk of Parkinson's by 70 percent.
• Infection with certain viruses, such as the herpes simplex virus (HSV), may contribute to the development of Parkinson's disease, and COVID-19 may increase the risk of brain degeneration seen in Parkinson's disease.
• The most effective therapy for Parkinson's disease is levodopa, which is decades old, and there is no known cure for Parkinson's disease.
• Prevention is the solution to addressing Parkinson's disease, and regular physical activity, controlling diabetes and hypertension, and reducing exposure to toxins can help decrease the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
• Banning paraquat, TCE, and the closely related dry cleaning chemical perchloroethylene (PCE) and cleaning up the air can help make Parkinson's disease increasingly rare.