Alzheimer's Disease Linked to Contaminated Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune

The contamination of drinking water sources at Camp Lejeune has resulted in numerous health complications for Camp Lejeune veterans, civilians, and family members living or working at the base.

The toxic substances that infiltrated the water supply have been linked to various illnesses, including cancers, birth defects, and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.

The 2009 National Research Council (NRC) report titled “Review of VA Clinical Guidance for the Health Conditions Identified by the Camp Lejeune Legislation” contained a section on the characterization of neurobehavioral effects suffered by Camp Lejeune victims.

Alzheimer’s Disease did not fall under the National Research Council’s classification of neurobehavioral effects related to Camp Lejeune water contamination.

However, several scientific studies link exposure to toxic substances like TCE and PCE to the onset of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s Disease:

• Journal of Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The disease intersection of susceptibility and exposure: Chemical exposures and neurodegenerative disease risk
• International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: Environmental Substances Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease—A Scoping Review
• American Journal of Epidemiology: Solvent exposure as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease: a case-control study
• Annals of Translational Medicine: Changes in cognitive function and related brain regions in chronic benzene poisoning: a case report

About Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that slowly impairs memory, thinking, and behavior.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for a decline in cognitive ability severe enough to interfere with daily life.

While age is a significant risk factor for Alzheimer’s, environmental factors can also play a role in the development of the disease.

Most people affected by this disease experience symptoms of Alzheimer’s between the ages of 65 and 75, but rare cases have been reported in people as young as 30.

The medical condition was named after German pathologist Alois Alzheimer.

The doctor observed changes in the brain tissue of a woman who died from an uncommon mental illness.

The patient suffered language problems, memory loss, and unpredictable behavior.

Upon her death, the doctor studied her brain and found multiple amyloid plaques or abnormal clumps in the brain.

He also discovered neurofibrillary tangles, also called tau tangles, which are tangled bundles of fibers inside brain cells.

These features are now primary markers of Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s Disease and Its Causes

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the primary cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown even after many studies.

However, scientists believe that a combination of several factors can contribute to its development.

Risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease include:

• Age: The risk of Alzheimer’s disease increases with age, with cases most common in people over 65 years old.
• Sex: Women are more vulnerable to the disease than men.
• Family History: People with a parent or sibling with the condition are more likely to develop it.
• Head Trauma: Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
• Lifestyle: Smoking, physical inactivity, high cholesterol, and obesity can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s.
• Environmental Factors: Exposure to certain environmental toxins can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Some toxic chemicals found in the water are known neurotoxins, which are chemicals that could contribute to the onset of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s Disease Complications

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disorder that gradually worsens over time.

As the disease progresses, patients experience more severe cognitive decline.

The most common complications of Alzheimer’s include: 

• Memory Loss: The patient progressively loses the ability to store and recall memories.
• Language Problems: Patients can have difficulty recognizing words, speaking, and understanding conversations.
• Impairment of Judgment: People with Alzheimer’s disease may experience difficulty making decisions or recognizing potential risks.
• Confusion: Patients can become easily confused about time and location.
• Behavioral Changes: People with the condition may become irritable or suspicious of loved ones and caregivers.
• Loss of Mobility: As the disease progresses, patients can lose their ability to move independently.

Alzheimer’s disease is a terminal condition that can severely diminish the quality of life.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease at this time.

Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit Overview

U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune was the site of rampant and severe water contamination from 1953 until 1987.

Toxic substances, including industrial solvents and other hazardous chemicals, contaminated drinking water through multiple pathways such as waste disposal sites, leaking underground storage tanks, and more.

Exposure to the contaminated water supply at Camp Lejeune has led to significant health issues and illnesses that have impacted the lives of veterans, their family members, and countless others.

For decades after the contamination at Camp Lejeune subsided, active duty and former military service members were unable to secure proper disability compensation, health care benefits, and other forms of relief from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 is a new law that established a claims process for Marine Corps veterans, family members, workers, and others who were exposed to water contamination at Camp Lejeune.

Through the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, people exposed to Camp Lejeune water contamination can seek compensation from the government for exposure, and if their claims are not accepted or fulfilled in an adequate manner, pursue litigation in the US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

If you or a loved one were exposed to water contamination at Camp Lejeune between 1953 to 1987, you may be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune Justice Act claim or pursue a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit.

Contact TorHoerman Law for a free consultation.

You can also use the chatbot on this page to find out if you qualify for the Camp Lejeune Lawsuit instantly.

Health Conditions Linked to Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune

The consumption of Camp Lejeune contaminated water has been linked to several cancer and non-cancer diagnoses including, but not limited to:

• Bladder Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Cervical Cancer
• Esophageal Cancer
• Kidney Cancer
• Liver Cancer
• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Adult Leukemia
• Aplastic Anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
• Multiple Myeloma
• Renal Toxicity
• Scleroderma
• Hepatic Steatosis
• Infertility In Women (and other birth effects)
• Lung Cancer
• Neurobehavioral Effects (like ALS & Parkinson’s Disease)
• Ovarian Cancer
• Stomach Cancer
• Birth defects and birth injury
• Miscarriage

Service members, their families, civilian workers, and countless others were diagnosed with deadly health conditions and, for years, could not secure the benefits they desperately needed.

What are the VA Presumptive Service Connection Health Conditions?

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released a list of health conditions that have a “presumptive service connection” to water contamination at Camp Lejeune.

The health conditions with a presumptive service connection to Camp Lejeune water contamination include:

• Adult leukemia
• Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
• Bladder cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Liver cancer
• Multiple myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Parkinson’s disease

What Toxic Substances Were Found in the Water Supply at Camp Lejeune?

The ATSDR found several toxic chemicals in the water supply at Camp Lejeune.

Many of the toxic substances found in the Camp Lejeune water supply are known human carcinogens and have been linked to several other health conditions, such as the ones listed above.

Toxic chemicals in the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune include:

• Trichloroethylene (TCE)
• Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
• Vinyl Chloride
• Benzene
• Up to 70 other toxic substances and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

The detected levels of these pollutants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune were higher than the legal safe limit by quite some measure.

Over time, Camp Lejeune residents developed illnesses due to long-term exposure to these hazardous chemicals.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act: Providing a Pathway to Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims

For decades, former Camp Lejeune residents have suffered from the complications of water contamination without many viable routes to seek justice.

The Federal Tort Claims Act of 1946 (FTCA) provided compensation for victims of personal injury, property damage or loss, or death from negligence or act of omission on part of the federal government, but Camp Lejeune claims were not permitted under the FTCA.

Other legislative attempts, such as the Honoring Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012, attempted to secure VA health care benefits, disability compensation, and other forms of relief for victims, however the bill was not comprehensive enough to address the breadth of the issue.

On August 10th, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, also known as Honoring Our PACT or PACT Act, into law.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act was encompassed in the PACT Act.

Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, Camp Lejeune victims, family members, military service members, National Guard members, civilian workers, and any other person who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 may be eligible to participate in the administrative claims process.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) of 2022 was Section 804 of the PACT Act.

Modifying the FTCA, this law allows victims to file claims against the federal government, affording them the opportunity to seek proper compensation for various damages.

Those exposed to the toxic chemicals in Camp Lejeune’s water supply for at least 30 days during the contamination period may be eligible for compensation under these laws.

With the CLJA, victims file administrative compensation claims for their exposure and illnesses, outlining a demand of certain monetary compensation.

The Navy’s Tort Claims Unit will promptly review compensation claims filed by victims.

If victims do not receive a decision on their compensation claims within 6 months, they may be eligible to pursue a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Do You Qualify for the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?

Camp Lejeune water contamination lasted for decades and resulted several illnesses, including different types of cancer, birth defects, and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s.

You may be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 if you or a loved one were exposed to the contaminated water supply at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more during the contamination period (August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1987). 

The Camp Lejeune litigation is ongoing, and Camp Lejeune lawyers can help you seek proper compensation for your illness.

Law firms that specialize in Camp Lejeune cases can help victims complete the steps necessary to filing claims and seeking compensation.

These steps include gathering evidence and assessing damages.

Gathering Evidence for Camp Lejeune Claims

To file a Camp Lejeune claim, victims must be able to demonstrate that they were exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune for a minimum of 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.

Your Camp Lejeune attorneys can help you gather evidence, but this is a step you may be able to begin on your own.

Potential evidence in a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit may include:

• Medical records, including diagnosis and treatment records
• Proof of residence at the Camp Lejeune base during the contamination period
• Documentation showing your eligibility for VA benefits or disability compensation
• Military service records
• Witness statements from family members and friends
• Any other evidence that connects your illness to the water contamination at Camp Lejeune

Gathering evidence is crucial in filing a Camp Lejeune claim and seeking the compensation you deserve.

Assessing Damages for Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Claims

Damages refer to the total amount of losses, economic and non-economic, incurred as a result of exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune.

Your Camp Lejeune lawyers can help you assess and calculate your total damages, which will be included in compensation claims and Camp Lejeune litigation if necessary.

Potential damages in a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit may include:

• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages or loss of earning capacity
• Mental anguish
• Funeral costs (if the victim has died)
• Loss of companionship
• Other expenses related to the illness

It’s highly recommended to seek legal help from experienced Camp Lejeune attorneys who can accurately assess damages and advocate on your behalf.

TorHoerman Law: Your Camp Lejeune Lawyers

Proper legal representation is highly recommended when seeking justice for the health complications of Camp Lejeune water contamination.

TorHoerman Law is committed to advocating for individuals and families affected by this tragedy.

Our experienced attorneys are well-versed in handling complex cases involving toxic exposure and its consequences.

If you or a loved one were exposed to water contamination at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, you may be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit.

Contact TorHoerman Law for a free consultation.

You can also use the chatbot on this page to find out if you qualify for the Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit instantly.

Our Camp Lejeune attorneys are here to help you through this situation and advocate for your legal rights.

Reach out to our law firm for more information and to find out how our Camp Lejeune attorneys can help you.