Neurologist Calls for Hexane Ban in Food Industry โFollowing Parkinson’s Research
PARIS – A leading french neurologist is sounding the alarm aboutโค theโ neurotoxic effects of hexane, a solvent widely used in the food industry, urging its immediate elimination. Dr. David Devos, a neurologist at Lille University Hospital and professor of medical pharmacology at โขthe University of Lille, has been a long-time advocate for both treating and preventing debilitating neurological diseases like Parkinson’s. His call to action follows years of โฃresearch โinto innovative treatments for Parkinson’s, alongside a growing understandingโข of environmental risk factors.
Driven by witnessing โคa constant influx of new Parkinson’s patients, Dr.โ Devos began exploring โขoption treatment methods in 2004, focusing on directly delivering dopamine to the brain via a pump. Recent studiesโฃ suggest this intracerebral infusion methodโฃ might potentially be substantially more effective than โtraditional medication, with a larger clinicalโ trial planned for late 2026. However,โ Dr. devos emphasizes โคthat treatment isโข only โฃone piece of the puzzle. He believes a proactiveโฃ approach-reducing exposure โto neurotoxic โsubstances-is crucial in โcombating the rising rates of neurodegenerative diseases.
Just weeks ago, Dr. Devos co-authored an article in Le Monde specifically warning about the dangers of hexane exposure. Hexane, commonly used โto extract vegetable oils, is a known neurotoxin linked to peripheral neuropathy and, increasingly, to an elevated risk of โฃParkinson’s disease.โฃ While regulations exist, Dr. Devos argues they are insufficient to protect public health.
“I’m tired of seeing new affected patients every dayโ in consultation,” Dr. Devos stated, highlighting the urgency of the situation. He โขbelieves eliminating hexane from the food industry is a vital โstep in preventing future cases of โParkinson’s andโข other neurological disorders. The call for a ban underscores a growing movement within the โscientific community to address โenvironmental factors contributing to these diseases, shifting the focus beyond solely genetic predisposition and age-related decline.
