Causes of Parkinson

1
Causes of Parkinsons Disease

1. Blows to the head eg Muhammad Ali
2. Genes eg Michael J Fox (young onset)
BUT these each account for only a small
percentage of early onset cases ( 5 to 10 )
Studies of exposure to pesticides clearly suggest
that they often have a causal role in Parkinson's
Disease (PD)

2
Many studies show that
3
More studies, more details. NOTE Studies from
1990s provided data for a META ANALYSIS by
Priyadarshi et al 2000.
Brown et al 2006 High quality evidence from many
independent sources
Note dates from 1991 onwards
4
Two agencies that should protect the public
the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) the EPA
(Environmental Protection Agency) Both have been
strongly criticized.
The method of funding may be a problem

• Funding for the FDA should come from government
  general funds rather than user fees

User fees create a perception that the agency is
beholden to the companies that its supposed to
be regulating.
5
From HARVARD UNIVERISTY
Harvard Health Letter Comments on the FDA (Food
and Drug Administration.)

• Calls for FDA reform getting louder and clearer
• The FDA used to be one of the countrys most
  trusted institutions. Now that trust is in
  tatters
• Conflicts of interests
• A budget too dependent on user fees paid by
  industry
• Growing politicization

6
Many people suffering from Parkinsons have no
idea what might have caused it.  
WHY did the American Parkinson Disease
Association (APDA) allow this statement in its
newsletter 21 in 2006? Parkinsons disease
remains a condition which cannot be prevented or
cured Have they TRIED to prevent it, using good
methodology (Randomized Controlled Trials) ?
NO.. so they do not know whether or not
prevention is possible.
There is no good reason to dismiss prevention
We must try to avoid the tortures and early
deaths of PD, missing grandchildren growing up
etc etc
7
Another PD organization in denial PDF
As is the case with many neurological disorders,
the cause of Parkinsons disease is not known
However, scientists and researchers are working
diligently to uncover the possible cause(s),
including genetics and environmental factors
PDF Web 2007
PDF Parkinsons Disease Foundation 1359
Broadway, Suite 1509 New York, NY 10018 (212)
923-4700 [phone] Fax [phone]
info_at_pdf.org www.pdf.org
Slow learners?
8
email Alberto Ascherio (aascheri_at_hsph.harvard.edu
)Funded byMichael J. Fox Foundation, Kinetic
FoundationNational Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences Grant Number ES10804
Results Exposure to pesticides was reported by
7,864 participants (5.7), including 1,956
farmers, ranchers, or fishermen. Individuals
exposed to pesticides had a 70 higher incidence
of PD than those not exposed (adjusted relative
risk, 1.7 95 confidence interval, 1.2-2.3 p
0.002). The relative risk for pesticide exposure
was similar in farmers and non-farmers. No
relation was found between risk for PD and
exposure to asbestos, chemical/acids/solvents,
coal or stone dust, or eight other occupational
exposures.
These data support the hypothesis that exposure
to pesticides may increase risk for PD. Future
studies should seek to identify the specific
chemicals responsible for this association.
Annals of Neurology 2006
YES! Pay attention APDA PDF!
9
June 26th 2006

• Researchers at the
• HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH undertook a
  prospective study to examine possible links
  between chronic low-dose exposure to pesticides
  and PARKINSONs disease.
• The significant association between pesticide
  exposure and Parkinsons disease among
  individuals who are not farmers is most likely
  explained by use of pesticides at home or in
  gardening

Further information from tdatz_at_hsph.harvard.edu
10

From the UK May 2007

• Gardeners more likely to develop Parkinsons
  disease
• Dr. Finlay Dick, University of Aberdeen,
  Scotland, UK
• Further research is needed to establish which
  pesticides are associated with this effect
• The exposure-response relationship suggests that
  pesticide exposure may be a causative and
  potentially modifiable risk factor

YES!
Make Parkinsons History!
11
Is there a scandal?
Pesticides
Parkinsons
Torture followed by early death
cause
Medications for 1.5 million people in US
Is this why APDA and PDF have said there is no
known cause of PD?
make lots of money
Lots more money.
Pharmaceutical companies benefit ?
Write to Parkinson.action_at_gmail.com
12
Found on the web Chance confirmation of
tentative suspicions that companies benefit from
both Pesticides AND Parkinsons.
With revenues of 14 billion, Zeneca is among
the world's largest manufacturers of pesticides,
plastics, and pharmaceuticals.
Zeneca is ... a major manufacturer of herbicides
and fungicides. One of their products, an
organo-chlorine herbicide called acetochlor, is
implicated as a causal factor in breast cancer.
End the tragedy of Parkinson's - - - BAN
PESTICIDES (Hire more gardeners and farm workers
- - - and give better working conditions)
Comments welcome at parkinson.action_at_gmail.co
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