Atrophy of the brain that potentially leads to neurodegeneration in the basal ganglia can be caused by a magnitude of diseases and disorders (text book p 782).These disorders include progressive supra-nuclear palsy, Shy- Drager syndrome, and diffuse Lewy body disease to name few. Another neurodegenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system, is more commonly known, and affects approximately 800,000 adults just in the United States is Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s normally affects the middle-aged and elderly population but can also affect young adults and even children in some cases. Parkinson’s was once called paralysis agitans’ but the name was later changed to honor the physician who first discovered it in 1817, James Parkinson.
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However, the incidence increases a tremendous amount with age and by the age of 70 the number of cases is 6 times greater. It has been found that men have a greater chance than women of developing Parkinson’s. The reason for this is unknown but it is thought that hormones may protect women, and men are at an increased risk of being exposed to environmental toxins due to their job choices. Parkinson’s is characterized by a loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, as well as the presence of Lewy Bodies. The exact cause of the disease is unknown but it is thought that 95% of the cases are sporadic, meaning that they result from factors other than genetics. These factors include environmental toxins, infection exposures, and certain occupations. Occupations that are at an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s include farmers, welders, and teachers. Occupations that are at a decreased risk of developing Parkinson’s include engineers, construction workers, and production workers. Studies show that factors such as alcohol, smoking, diet, and stress are not linked with the disease. In the cases related to genetics, the PARK1 to PARK11 genes are thought to be linked to Parkinson’s. There is also a set of genes that include synuclein, LRRK2, NURR1, and UCHL1 that are thought to be linked to autosomal dominant Parkinsonism. Another set of genes including parkin, DJ1, and PINK1 are thought to cause autosomal recessive disease (textbook p
However, the incidence increases a tremendous amount with age and by the age of 70 the number of cases is 6 times greater. It has been found that men have a greater chance than women of developing Parkinson’s. The reason for this is unknown but it is thought that hormones may protect women, and men are at an increased risk of being exposed to environmental toxins due to their job choices. Parkinson’s is characterized by a loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, as well as the presence of Lewy Bodies. The exact cause of the disease is unknown but it is thought that 95% of the cases are sporadic, meaning that they result from factors other than genetics. These factors include environmental toxins, infection exposures, and certain occupations. Occupations that are at an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s include farmers, welders, and teachers. Occupations that are at a decreased risk of developing Parkinson’s include engineers, construction workers, and production workers. Studies show that factors such as alcohol, smoking, diet, and stress are not linked with the disease. In the cases related to genetics, the PARK1 to PARK11 genes are thought to be linked to Parkinson’s. There is also a set of genes that include synuclein, LRRK2, NURR1, and UCHL1 that are thought to be linked to autosomal dominant Parkinsonism. Another set of genes including parkin, DJ1, and PINK1 are thought to cause autosomal recessive disease (textbook p