Tag: Spastic paralysis

Epidemics of neurolathyrism often followed periods of famine throughout history, when the drought-resistant grass pea (*Lathyrus sativus*) became the primary or sole food source for impoverished populations. This debilitating neurological disease, causing irreversible paralysis of the legs, is a historical and modern-day reminder of the dangers posed by toxic compounds within certain food plants.

Lathyrism, a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the consumption of grass pea ($Lathyrus sativus$), has caused devastating epidemics during famine, leaving thousands permanently crippled. Understanding the stages of lathyrism disease progression is vital for preventing and managing this permanent disability.