Pesticides Causes Parkinson’s Disease

Many studies suggest that Parkinson's disease is more common among people who report exposure to pesticides. There are case reports of acute parkinsonism after exposure to paraquat and organophosphate insecticides. Not all people exposed to pesticides, however, develop Parkinson's disease. Reports suggest that some people may have a genetic susceptibility to Parkinson's disease mediated by enzymes involved in the disposition of pesticides. A recent study in the Lancet on the metabolism of people with Parkinsonism may explain why some people exposed to pesticides get this disease and others don’t. (Lancet 1998; 352: 1344-46.)

COMMENT: Parkinson’s disease is an important reason to avoid exposure to pesticides and one effective way to do this is to eat low on the food chain. Plant foods are low on the food chain and as a result have the lowest concentrations of pesticides. (Pesticides and other environmental contaminants are attracted to and concentrated in fats.)

DHEA Warning

DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) is the fastest-selling product in the health food stores. Millions of Americans are taking it in the belief that it may be a sexual potency enhancer, energy stimulator, and all around "Fountain of Youth." But is it safe? In a recent issue of Science (279563, 1998) it was reported that high levels of insulin-like growth factor may be a major risk factor for prostate cancer. Older men with high levels of this factor have nearly eight times the risk of developing prostate cancer. DHEA is known to increase serum IGF-I levels. In women (but not in men), daily DHEA supplements in the dose range of 25 to 50 mg increase, and in many cases double, the level of serum testosterone and may develop such unpleasant androgenic side effects as acne, hirsutism, irregular menses, and male-pattern hair loss. A case of heart irregularity with palpitations was recently reported. (Ann Intern Med 129:588, 1998.)

Herb Treats Prostate Cancer

PC-SPES, a commercially available combination of eight herbs (chrysanthemum, isatis, licorice, Ganoderma lucidum, Panax pseudo-ginseng, Rabdosia rubescens, saw palmetto, and scutellaria (skull cap), is used as a nonestrogenic treatment for cancer of the prostate. (N Engl J Med 339:785, 1998.) Many of these herbs are known to have estrogen-like effects. This study found potent estrogenic activity in yeast, mice, and humans. In patients with prostate cancer, it causes clinically significant reductions in testosterone and decreases in prostatic specific antigens (PSA levels). It also had side effects similar to estrogen, such as impotence and breast tenderness. The reduction in testosterone levels was sufficient to have antitumor activity (comparable to Leuprolide, an anti-testosterone drug). PSA levels were found to rise within two to six weeks of stopping the herbal preparation. PC-SPECS has also been shown to inhibit growth of cancer cells in the laboratory in cell cultures. The authors conclude, "Our results suggest that PC-SPEC may prove useful in the treatment of hormonally sensitive prostate cancer...."

COMMENT: How wonderful that the most respected American medical journal has seen fit to publish results of a potentially beneficial herbal treatment of prostate cancer. The next phase is to research the effects of this preparation on the quality and length of life of prostate cancer patients.

Tranquilizers Cause Traffic Accidents

Drugs acting on the central nervous system can have adverse effects, such as drowsiness and increased reaction time that may affect driving performance. In elderly people, benzodiazepines and tricyclic antidepressants have been associated with increased risks of road-traffic accidents causing injury. One report suggested that at least 10% of all people killed or injured in traffic accidents were taking some medication that affected the mind. A study of 19,386 drivers involved in a first road-traffic accident found 1,731 were users of a psychoactive drug (tricyclic antidepressant, benzodiazepine, selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor, or other psychoactive drug [mainly major tranquilizers]). On the day of the accident, 189 individuals were taking tricyclic antidepressants, 84 selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, 235 benzodiazepines, and 47 other psychoactive drugs. (Lancet 1998; 352: 1331-36.) Older people and those consuming alcohol had greater risk of accidents. The authors concluded, "Users of anxiolytic benzodiazepines and zopiclone were at increased risk of experiencing a road traffic accident. Users of anxiolytic benzodiazepines and zopiclone should be advised not to drive."

COMMENT: As a medical student I recall being told by a drug salesman that a common benzodiazepine, Restoril, was being recommended to airline pilots to help them sleep because it was short acting and did not affect their judgment and abilities to fly. I sure hope pilots have a better understanding of how these drugs impair their mental and physical abilities and how they contribute to accidents. Based on this research, people should not be allowed to drive under the influence of these drugs. With Restoril, after nine hours half of the drug is still in the system.

Benzodiazepines include: Ativan, Dalmane, Doral, Halcion, Prosom, Restoril, and Valium. Ambien is a zopiclone-type drug.

So what if you can’t sleep or you are nervous? You might try eating better and exercising. Give up your stimulants, like coffee. Try some calming herbs like St. John’s Wort for relief of anxiety or Valerian root extract to sleep. Melatonin (1 mg) is commonly recommended and may be especially helpful for the elderly with sleep problems. However, I personally get a hangover when I take Melatonin.

Antidepressants Increase the Risk of Falling in Elderly

A study of 2,428 nursing home residents in Tennessee who were new users of tricyclic antidepressants (Elavil and Sinequan), selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (Prozac and Zoloft), or trazodone (Desyrel), found higher rates of falls from each type of drug compared to the nonusers. (N Engl J Med 1998;339:875-82.) Higher doses meant more falls. The authors conclude, "... the preferential use of the newer antidepressants (Prozac and Zoloft) is unlikely to reduce the higher rate of falls among nursing home residents taking antidepressants."

COMMENT: The elderly are very susceptible to falls and related injuries, sometimes serious injuries, such as a broken hip. Drugs which affect the mind increase this risk of falling. Unfortunately, many elderly people are also depressed. So what should be done? The cause of their depression should be addressed rather than trying to suppress the problems with powerful, expensive, and dangerous medications.

The scenario I commonly see is a person retires from a lifetime of employment, or the children are raised and gone, and now there is an abundance of free time to oversleep in the morning and take a nap or two during the day. But sleep produces depressogenic substances causing one to become depressed and in search of relief. (JAMA 267:548, 1992.) In comes the helpful doctor who prescribes an antidepressant, which, unfortunately, has a side effect of drowsiness, causing more sleep. And then more depression. This cycle is easily broken by setting the alarm clock to get only five to seven hours of sleep nightly and refusing to take naps. The relief is dramatic and almost overnight. Becoming a useful, productive person is an additional aid to relieving depression.