Posts Tagged ‘nervous system’

A new study announced today by the American Academy of Neurology suggests that workers exposed to the industrial chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) were five and a half times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. Researchers studied 99 pairs of twins in which only one of the twins had Parkinson’s disease. Many of those who developed Parkinson’s had a history of exposure to the chemical through various jobs including dry cleaners, machinists, mechanics or electricians. TCE is a common industrial solvent that is widely used to clean grease off of metal parts. This is the first population study that has demonstrated an association between TCE and Parkinson’s. Previously, only case reports existed. These findings will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10 to April 17, 2010. [via Medical News Today]

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It appears that the human nervous system is more complex than we know. In addition to the nerves in our skin that allow us to feel pressure, vibration, temperature and pain a fine network of nerves associated with small blood vessels and sweat glands appear to have the same functional abilities. It was previously believed that these nerves simply regulated blood flow and sweating. However, by studying people who were born without conventional nerve endings in their skin, scientists realized that even though their skin sensations were severely diminished, they still had adequate sensation for daily living. “Apparently, these unique individuals are able to ‘feel things’ through these remaining nerve endings. What we learned from these unusual individuals is that there’s another level of sensory feedback that can give us conscious tactile information”, said Dr. Frank Rice, a neuroscience professor at Albany Medical College. The study is published in the December 15 issue of the journal Pain. Could these nerves be associated with pain-related conditions such as migraines and fibromyalgia? Only time will tell. [via Science Daily]

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The most common cause of peroneal nerve compression problems is habitual leg crossing. By crossing your legs and compressing the area behind your knees the peroneal nerve can be damaged, leading to a common finding called foot drop. People who have this type of nerve damage will usually present with tripping episodes due to foot drop, and tingling and numbness in their affected leg and foot. Pain can also be present. Most peroneal nerve problems respond to conservative management with rest and elimination of triggering factors, such as leg crossing. Physical therapy and ankle-foot orthosis can help to stabilize gait and prevent tripping.

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