The emerging science on cognitive dysfunction
Every day we are exposed to a wide variety of chemicals. The foods we eat have them, the water we drink has them, and even the air we breathe contains potentially toxic substances. Not to mention things such as cleaning products, fragrances, and cosmetics, to name a few. While most people will not have a serious reaction to such chemicals, others may indeed be significantly affected by them.
In this gallery, we explore how chemicals can affect our brain and nervous system, how neurotoxicity works, and conditions such as toxic encephalopathy and multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). Click on to learn more about the dangers of chemical exposure.
We are all exposed to chemicals in our daily lives. From the clothes we wear, to the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe, we’re constantly inhaling or ingesting them.
While everyday exposure to dangerous chemicals is indeed low, some consumer products can be potentially toxic, even if we don’t have an instant adverse reaction to them.
When we’re exposed to these products, the normal functioning of the nervous system is affected. This is known as neurotoxicity.
Neurotoxicants can be natural or man-made. Both can have adverse effects on our nervous system and the brain.
Toxic products may include pesticides, cosmetics, air fresheners, and fragrances, as well as industrial and cleaning solvents.
Other substances that can be neurotoxic to us include chemotherapy drugs, radiation, heavy metals, and certain food additives.
Symptoms could occur shortly after being exposed to the substance, or later. These may include short-term memory loss, insomnia, and headaches.
Other symptoms include cognitive and behavioral problems, limb weakness, numbness or tingling, and sexual dysfunction, among others.
A nerve conduction test is usually done to ascertain whether the peripheral nervous system has been affected.
Other tests used to detect damage to the brain include a pupillography, a computerized balance heart rate variability assessment, neuropsychological testing, and a brain SPECT scan.
Eliminating exposure to what causes the issue is the first step. Avoiding being exposed to further air, food, and water pollutants also helps.
Other treatments are targeted at managing specific symptoms, but there are more holistic approaches, such as exercise, massage, and the use of immune modulation drugs.
While many of the harmful effects of toxic chemical exposure are felt in the short term, in the long term neurotoxicity can affect neurons in the brain.
This disruption (and death) of neurons is known as toxic encephalopathy. Neurons are the cells responsible for transmitting and processing signals in the brain and the nervous system.
Symptoms of toxic encephalopathy vary greatly and may include a loss of neurocognitive function.
In addition to the aforementioned symptoms, toxic encephalopathy can also manifest through symptoms of dementia, seizures, and disturbed visual, auditory, vestibular, or olfactory functions.
In addition to the tests used in the diagnosis of neurotoxicity, chemical and food provocation/neutralization tests can be prescribed. Other tests include a P450, mitochondrial, and thyroid tests, among others.
Other lifestyle changes include avoiding foods with preservatives and other chemicals, drinking filtered water, and performing physical and cognitive exercises.
Some people claim to have an environmental intolerance, of unknown cause, known as multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) or idiopathic environmental intolerances (IEI).
People who suffer from MCS report sensitivity to a variety of chemicals in their environment. These may include chemicals found in food, cleaning products, and medicines.
Other chemicals that can trigger symptoms include fragrances and smoke, but also other things, such as electromagnetic fields.
People with MCS report a wide variety of symptoms, which are triggered by exposure, namely headaches, fatigue, dizziness, breathing problems, and cold-like symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, and sore throat.
Other symptoms may include chest pain, changes in heart rate, skin rash, itching, bloating, confusion, nausea, concentrating and memory problems, as well as muscle pain and mood changes.
American physician Theron Randolph first suggested MCS to be a disease in 1950, but to this day the World Health Organization (WHO) does not recognize MCS as an illness.
While the American Medical Association shares the same position as the WHO, MCS has been recognized as a disability in some countries, including Canada and Germany.
While MCS is a real condition for many people, the scientific community struggles to give it the same validity. “Disagreement over the validity of the disease is partially due to the lack of a distinct set of signs and symptoms, or an accepted cause,” reports The Guardian.
Despite what the medical community asserts, the truth is that some people do suffer from (sometimes severe) symptoms, so they should be treated with empathy and respect. The condition is indeed very real for these people.
Sources: (ScienceDirect) (The Guardian) (News Medical) (State of Nevada Department of Health & Human Services Aging and Disability Services Division)
See also: The "toxic cocktail" of chemicals invading our bodies
Safe or Toxic: Demystifying chemical exposure
Toxins detected in popular mattresses sold at major retailers
HEALTH Conditions
Every day we are exposed to a wide variety of chemicals. The foods we eat have them, the water we drink has them, and even the air we breathe contains potentially toxic substances. Not to mention things such as cleaning products, fragrances, and cosmetics, to name a few. While most people will not have a serious reaction to such chemicals, others may indeed be significantly affected by them.
In this gallery, we explore how chemicals can affect our brain and nervous system, how neurotoxicity works, and conditions such as toxic encephalopathy and multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). Click on to learn more about the dangers of chemical exposure.