Herbicide and head injury combined increase odds of brain injury

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A recent study showed that individuals suffering head injuries while also at some point in time exposed to the herbicide paraquat were three times more at risk of contracting Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a nerve disorder that can result in tremors and the loss of coordination.

Either a head injury or paraquat exposure alone can increase the chances of Parkinson’s disease. However, the combination of the two factors dramatically increases the risk of coming down with the disease.

Paraquat as herbicide is used primarily as a weed killer. For whatever reason, it appears that a brain injury leaves an individual even more susceptible to toxic exposure to paraquat.

There can be more than one cause for brain injury, and thus when a brain injury does occur attorneys may wish to hold more than one party liable. This can be difficult as defendants will tend to point the finger at each other in an attempt to excuse their own conduct. That’s why it’s important that clients seeking relief concerning a brain injury consult with an attorney that understands how such cases are tried.

There is a continual study of the causes of brain injuries in this country and its connection to Parkinson’s disease. But though the cause of the brain injuries is sometimes known, how to precipitate the healing of the brain is still mostly unknown.

It is because the brain is such a delicate organ that we need to reduce the causes of brain injuries from occurring. Overtime, we will learn more and more about brain injuries, but there will always be more to learn.

Source: ABC News, “Head Injury, Herbicide, Linked to Parkinson’s Disease in Survey,” by Lara Salahi, Nov. 13, 2012

• More information on this topic is contained on our Hackensack Brain Injury Attorneys website.