Chemical Agents and ParkinsonsAs the world's industry and technology become more advanced, we expose ourselves to new chemicals and byproducts on a everyday basis. Prolonged exposure to these unnatural substances may harm our biological systems, and could induce certain illnesses. Some of these chemicals include pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, food additives and more (Burch 2005). The cause of Parkinson's disease (PD) is unknown, but epidemiological studies suggest an association with pesticides and other environmental toxins. Biochemical studies implicate that these toxins create a systemic defect in mitochondrial complex I, which is associated with PD (Betarbet et al 2000).
This is the reason why there is a higher prevalence of PD among people who live in rural areas and work on farms. Medical ecology has a central model of ecosystems, which describes a set of relationships among organisms within a given environment that provides both opportunities and constraints (McElroy 2004). Anthronpologists are continually trying to zoom into what geological settings can contribute to the onset of this disease. |
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Race and ParkinsonsA huge and important debate, especially among medical anthropologists, is the racial inequality that accompanies today's diseases (Clarence 2009). Many diseases are often seen in higher numbers due to lower socioeconomic status & lower education. For example, researchers have found that Alzheimer's disease is associated with lower levels of education (Karp 2004). The case with PD is a bit unusual, in which case it is more frequent among higher class Caucasians. The video in the left shows how Dr. Lisa Shulman, a professor of neurology in Maryland, studied the racial and socioeconomic disparities in Baltimore.
While some researchers argue that our genetic make up might predispose us to PD (Scott 2002), it is false to assume that race is the major player. Human genetic variation is widely shared across our species, with relatively little variation occurring between racially defined groups (Clarence 2009). |
Betarbet, Ranjita , Todd Sherrer, and Gillian MacKenzie. "Chronic systemic pesticide exposure reproduces features of Parkinson's disease." Nature Neuroscience 3 (2000): 1301-1306.
Burch, D., and F. Sheering. "Parkinson's Disease." Lancet 365 (2005): 622-627.
Gravlee, Clarence C.. "How Race Becomes Biology: Embodiment Of Social Inequality." American Journal of Physical Anthropology 139, no. 1 (2009): 47-57.
Karp, A.. "Relation Of Education And Occupation-based Socioeconomic Status To Incident Alzheimer's Disease." American Journal of Epidemiology 159, no. 2 (2004): 175-183.
Lisa Schulman, "Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities Among Parkinson's Patients", Youtube video, 5:32, Posted by "UMMCVideos", Dec 14, 2010, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlBVbjKhsu0.
McElroy, Ann. "Evolutionary and Ecological Perspectives." Encyclopedia of Medical Anthropology Kluwer (2004): 31-37.
Micheal Roizen, "Avoid Pesticides to Prevent Parkinson's Disease", Youtube Video, 0:50, Posted by "Sharecarevideo", Jul 16, 2013, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXWOnCtsVeg.
S, Scott. "Understanding the challenge of parkinson's disease." Nursing Standard 15, no. 41 (2002): 48-56.
Burch, D., and F. Sheering. "Parkinson's Disease." Lancet 365 (2005): 622-627.
Gravlee, Clarence C.. "How Race Becomes Biology: Embodiment Of Social Inequality." American Journal of Physical Anthropology 139, no. 1 (2009): 47-57.
Karp, A.. "Relation Of Education And Occupation-based Socioeconomic Status To Incident Alzheimer's Disease." American Journal of Epidemiology 159, no. 2 (2004): 175-183.
Lisa Schulman, "Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities Among Parkinson's Patients", Youtube video, 5:32, Posted by "UMMCVideos", Dec 14, 2010, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlBVbjKhsu0.
McElroy, Ann. "Evolutionary and Ecological Perspectives." Encyclopedia of Medical Anthropology Kluwer (2004): 31-37.
Micheal Roizen, "Avoid Pesticides to Prevent Parkinson's Disease", Youtube Video, 0:50, Posted by "Sharecarevideo", Jul 16, 2013, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXWOnCtsVeg.
S, Scott. "Understanding the challenge of parkinson's disease." Nursing Standard 15, no. 41 (2002): 48-56.