In the News

Mounting Evidence Suggests Pesticides-Parkinson's Link

Experts are taking notice of a number of recent studies that point to a link between exposure to pesticides and the development of Parkinson's disease. One shows that farm workers exposed to the common weed killer paraquat had two to three times the normal risk of Parkinson's. And other studies show a correlation between exposure to the pesticide and a build-up of alpha-synuclein in the brain, a toxic protein that has been linked to Parkinson's.

This new research made quite a buzz at a Parkinson's Disease Environmental Research meeting held in Monterey, California earlier this month. Previous studies have suggested a link between environmental factors and the disease, but, according to Parkinson's Institute founder Dr. William Langston, what makes this data different is that pesticide exposure could be carefully documented through records of pesticide purchases. "All of the pieces really look like they are coming together now," said Dr. Langston. Read More

Baby Boomers Can't Kick Drug Abuse Habits

The baby boom generation is known for its youthful indulgence in a cornucopia of substances, from LSD to marijuana to Quaaludes. Many have gone from Woodstock to Prozac, but, for some, the love affair with potent, mind-altering substances has continued into adulthood, and researchers are worried that the problem will worsen in the coming years. A recent comprehensive study of the problem found that three million boomer-age Americans had, in the past month, used illicit drugs like marijuana or cocaine or had misused prescription drugs. And the problem is growing—researchers at the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimate that number could more than double in the next 13 years. Caregivers, with their high stress levels and constant mental, spiritual, and physical exertion, are particularly vulnerable to the temporary escape that substances can provide.

The boomer generation is 78 million-strong, and the signs of their propensity for drug abuse are beginning to show up in the medical system. Hospital emergency rooms reported treating more than 400,000 boomer-aged patients for drug overdoses in 2004. And, alarmingly, one recent study determined that baby boomers made up about half of all Americans who died of drug-related causes in 2003. Read More

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