Actor Michael J Fox said last month he feared partying too hard in the 1980s could lead to a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.
The 61-year-old, who became an A-lister after the success of Back to the Future in 1985, said he believes drinking and other “chemicals” increased his chance of developing the disease.
Last year, actor and longtime friend Woody Harrelson presented Fox with an honorary Oscar. Harrelson said of his friend that “we did some damage.”
While this has never been proven to be the cause, research suggests that a number of recreational drugs can lead to symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease.
Michael J Fox (pictured) told CBS Sunday Morning that his bad habits and environmental exposure in the 1980s could be responsible for his Parkinson’s diagnosis
The aforementioned drugs and chemicals found in common goods have long been linked to the degenerative brain condition
Parkinson’s is caused by the death of nerve cells in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra — deep in the organ near the brainstem — responsible for producing dopamine.
Dopamine is an essential chemical that acts as a messenger between the parts of the brain and nervous system that help control and coordinate body movements.
The lack of dopamine causes symptoms such as tremors, slow movements, muscle stiffness, impaired balance, speech changes, and writing changes.
While researchers are still working to identify direct causes of Parkinson’s, there are several factors that can increase the chances of developing the condition.
“There are so many ways you can, I could have hurt myself. I could have hit my head. I may have drunk too much in a certain period of development. Most likely I think I was exposed to some kind of chemical,” Fox said CBS Sunday morning last month.
Drugs such as cocaine, meth, and MDMA affect similar parts of the brain that are affected by Parkinson’s. There’s no suggestion that Fox took any of those drugs, but he’s talked about alcohol and prescription pill addiction in the past after getting his diagnosis in 1991, when he was only 29 years old.
In 1998, he went public with his struggle with the disease and shocked the world as it interfered with his bright acting career.
Exposure to drugs and other environmental toxins, such as chemicals, have been linked to several cases of Parkinson’s:
Illegal drugs
Illegal drugs have been shown to affect dopamine production. A lack of dopamine can cause Parkinson’s symptoms, including tremors, slow movements, and muscle stiffness.
For example, cocaine has been shown to affect the brain’s dopamine transporter, causing abnormal concentrations of the chemical.
Research has found that adults who abuse cocaine may increase their risk of developing Parkinson’s, and that pregnant women who take the drug may make their children more likely to develop the disease.
Cocaine is a type of amphetamine or stimulant drug intended to speed up messages between the brain and body.
Legal variants are usually prescribed for conditions such as ADHD and narcolepsy, a condition in which the brain cannot control the ability to sleep or stay awake.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has reported that use of amphetamine and methamphetamine in general may increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
Additional research has also examined the link.
a 2018 study in the journal Neurologyfor example, found an association between the two.
In addition, a Research from 2021 found inflammatory biomarkers that could predict the development of Parkinson’s in people who had abused amphetamines.
Officer Orange
Agent Orange was mainly used in Vietnam from 1962 to 1975 to remove the foliage from trees. It has also done lasting damage to veterans
Although no longer produced, the strong pesticide Agent Orange has been linked to Parkinson’s.
It has not been definitively proven to cause the disease, although the United States Department of Veterans Affairs added Parkinson’s to the list of conditions potentially caused by the chemical.
The United States military used Agent Orange to clear foliage in Vietnam from 1962 to 1975.
The main chemical is dioxin, which has been linked to other diseases such as certain cancers, hypothyroidism, heart disease and diabetes.
Military veterans are today the most likely group of people to develop Parkinson’s from exposure to Agent Orange.
Trichlorethylene (TCE)
Trichlorethylene is a common additive in various household items such as tool cleaners, wipes, aerosols and carpet cleaners
Trichlorethylene (TCE) is a colorless liquid used in some household products, such as tool cleaners, wipes, aerosol sprays, paint removers, spray adhesives, and carpet cleaners.
It is also used in dry cleaners and stain removers. TCE is a known human carcinogen, meaning it increases the chance of developing cancer.
Individuals who work directly with TCE have an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s.
In animal studies, TCE has been shown to cause selective loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells, which is a hallmark of the disease in humans.
A small study found that exposure to TCE during work or hobby was associated with a 500 percent greater risk of developing Parkinson’s.
Use of the substance is banned in New York and Minnesota.
Pipe
Lead is mainly found in the paint of old houses and has been associated with a variety of lasting health effects.
The chemical was once thought to be safe and used in paint and other products in many homes.
But in recent decades, research has emerged linking it to a host of health problems.
It can be especially harmful to a young child whose brain is still developing.
Side effects of long-term exposure in adults include reproductive problems, high blood pressure, hypertension, nervous disorders, memory and concentration problems, and muscle and joint pain, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
A 2021 study of the University of California Los Angeles found a link between lead exposure and Parkinson’s disease by examining long-term exposure to the toxin for changes in DNA.
In addition, a 1997 report in the journal Neurology found that over 20 years of occupational exposure to lead plus copper or lead plus iron increased the risk of developing Parkinson’s.
Trichlorethylene (TCE)
Trichlorethylene (TCE) is a colorless liquid used in some household products, such as tool cleaners, wipes, aerosol sprays, paint removers, spray adhesives, and carpet cleaners.
It is also used in dry cleaners and stain removers. TCE is a known human carcinogen, meaning it increases the chance of developing cancer.
Individuals who work directly with TCE have an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s.
In animal studies, TCE has been shown to cause selective loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells, which is a hallmark of the disease in humans.
A small study found that exposure to TCE during work or hobby was associated with a 500 percent greater risk of developing Parkinson’s.
Use of the substance is banned in New York and Minnesota.
Paraquat
Paraquat is a toxic herbicide or plant killer used for weed and grass control.
While widely used in the US, it is banned in 32 countries, including the European Union and China. It was re-approved for use in 2020 by the EPA.
According to the Michael J. Fox Foundationparaquat may increase the risk of Parkinson’s by 100 to 500 percent.
The Parkinson Foundation has signed two letters asking the EPA to cancel the registration of paraquat in the US.
Last December, the EPA agreed to re-evaluate data on the chemical.
The EPA has listed paraquat as “restricted use,” meaning only people with a permit can use it.