Paraquat and Parkinson’s Disease

Individuals exposed to paraquat who have developed Parkinson’s disease may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer.

Does Paraquat Cause Parkinson’s Disease?

Exposure to paraquat has been shown to be associated with a greater risk of developing Parkinson’s disease—not to cause it. Just as everyone who smokes cigarettes does not develop lung cancer, but the evidence is irrefutable that people who smoke or smoked cigarettes are at a much greater risk of getting lung cancer than those who never smoked.

Scientists believe that both genetics and environment play a role in the development Parkinson’s disease. A study in California of more than 17,000 identical and fraternal twin brothers indicated that environmental factors actually outweighed genetics as a cause of Parkinson’s.

Paraquat has been banned in 32 countries, but not in the United States. In fact, the use of paraquat on crops in the U.S. has doubled in the past 10 years. But paraquat and TCE, another problematic chemical used in industry and some products, were banned in the Netherlands years ago and the incidence of Parkinson’s in the Netherlands has declined since.

The bottom line is that, while the specific numbers differ, there is quite a bit of evidence that exposure to paraquat—a highly toxic herbicide—may cause the onset of or accelerate the development of Parkinson’s disease. And the longer the exposure, the greater the risk. The studies also indicate there may be a time lag between first exposure and when symptoms develop.

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurological illness that affects the nervous system. Cells in the nervous system degenerate and break down. This causes the movement disorder seen in Parkinson’s patients. While the cause (or causes) of Parkinson’s remains unknown, experts believe that genetic changes and exposure to environmental factors such as toxins play a central role.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease develop gradually. Early signs of the disease may include:

• A slight tremor (shaking) in one hand
• A feeling of stiffness in the body
• Movement changes, such as tremors (trembling or shaking)
• Difficulty with balance or coordination, which may cause the person to drop things or fall
• Changes in walking style, such as leaning over when walking or shuffling feet
• Loss of sense of smell
• Softer voice or shaky voice
• Handwriting changes, such as smaller or cramped letters
• Sleep issues caused by restless legs and other factors

These movement issues may only affect one side of the body early in the disease before moving to the other side as well.

Other common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are:

• Difficulty chewing and swallowing
• Tiredness/fatigue
• Mood changes
• Depression
• Skin problems
• Constipation

Over time, dementia, delusions, and hallucinations may develop.

Other conditions can produce these same symptoms, so people experiencing those symptoms need expert medical advice and evaluation. And there is no test for Parkinson’s, so it can be difficult to diagnose, especially in its early stages.

Five Stages of Parkinson’s Disease

As noted, PD is a progressive disease. It worsens over time. Experts tell us there are five stages of Parkinson’s disease:

• Stage one: The person may have mild symptoms that do not interfere with their daily life. They may have tremors or other movement symptoms on one side of their body. They may see changes in their posture or walking gait or facial expressions.
• Stage two: The symptoms get worse. Tremors, rigidity, and other movement issues occur on both sides of the body. Independent living is still possible, but successfully managing daily life independently gets harder.
• Stage three: This is considered mid-stage Parkinson’s. The person experiences slowing of movements and loss of balance that significantly impair activities such as eating and dressing and personal hygiene tasks. Falling is also more common by stage three.
• Stage four: People In stage four of Parkinson’s disease are unable to live independently. Their symptoms become severe. The person may be able to stand unaided but needs a walker to move.
• Stage five: Stiffness in the legs may make standing or walking impossible. At this point, the Parkinson’s patient may need a wheelchair or be confined to a bed. Skilled nursing care is required 24/7. There may be hallucinations and delusions.

Treatments for Parkinson’s Disease

There is no known cure for Parkinson’s disease yet, and treatment varies by patient, because only the symptoms can be treated. Treatments include medication, surgery, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes, such as getting more rest and exercising.

Medications used for PD only treat and reduce the severity of the symptoms. They do not reverse the effects of the disease. People with Parkinson’s usually take a variety of medications to manage their symptoms.