Researchers Are Now Aware of The Cause of Parkinson Disease
Parkinson Disease first described in an 1817 by James Parkinson in his paper "An Essay on the Shaking Palsy".
While the cause of Parkinson Disease was not known then, the cause is known now to be that when the dopamine producing neurons, crucial for movement of the human body, in the brain (the substantia nigra) die or become impaired.
Dopamine transmits signals between the nerve cells in the subtantia nigra and another part of the brain, the corpus striatum, which part of the brain that is crucial for movement and balance.
Dopamine helps the bodies muscles make smooth movements with control, the absence of dopamine is the cause of parkinson disease and results in the many symptoms.
Current research indicates that the cause of Parkinson Disease is the loss of dopamine which may result from a bombination of genetic and environmental factors.
Genetic Factors
Current research shows that those with a family history of Parkinson Disease are more likely to develope Parkinson's. While the risk of developing the disease increases two or three times, if you have two, or more, family members with the disease, the overall risk of developing the disease is less than five percent.
While there does appear to be a genetic link, the links seems to be minor in the majority of cases.
Researchers have noted two genetic cause in Parkinson Disease
- High Levels of Specific Proteins - Abnormally high levels of 'alpha-synculein', a protein which accumulates in degenerating neurons in persons suffering from Parkinson's.
- Disposal of Unwanted Proteins - The protein 'parkin' which helps break down defective proteins in the neurons. If the parkin gene, which produces the protein, is damaged or impared, accumulating defective proteins may contribute to the death of neurons.
Environmental Factors
Researchers have not been able to link a specific herbidcide or pesticide to the disease, however research does indicate the those with long term exposure to certain herbidcide or pesticide have an increased chance of deveoping Parkinson disease.
Also exposure to certain substances such as manganese and carbon monoxide is also linked to the development of the disease.
The effects of these herbicides, pesticides and chemicals build up in the body over decades and may lead to the development of Parkinson's
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