A new study that was recently published in the journal “Surgical Neurology International” confirms what I wrote about several years ago — that the incidence of neurological disease and the deaths from these disorders has risen dramatically in the last few decades.

This study, which examined death rates from all neurological disorders from 1989 to 2010, found that there was a dramatic increase that affected both Americans between the ages of 55 and 74 and 75 and older.

In the 55 to 74 age group, neurological deaths among Americans increased 82 percent in males and 48 percent in females, while for the rest of the world (20 countries) the rate increased 2 percent and 1 percent, respectively.

For those over age 75, the incidence of neurological deaths for 20 other countries for males and females rose 117 and 143 percent, respectively. However, in the United States those death rates increased an astounding 368 and 663 percent, respectively.

This dramatic rise in neurological deaths was not a common phenomenon associated with other diseases, as the death rates with other diseases, such as strokes, heart attacks, and cancer actually fell during this same period.

The authors of the paper concluded that this drastic rise in neurological deaths was secondary to environmental causes, which include:

• Increased exposure to industrial and agricultural chemicals

• Widespread use of the pesticide Round-up

• Elevated exposure to mercury, aluminum, and other toxic metals

• Poor diets featuring high sugar and high intakes of oxidized vegetable oils

Fortunately, we are finding that a change in diet, avoiding exposure to these toxic chemicals, and using special plant extracts, as well as vitamins and minerals can significantly reduce the risk of death from neurological disorders.