Identifying Risk Factors in PD
The first step to a better understanding of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders is to identify and describe the shared characteristics of people who have these types of disease.
- Environmental Factors
- In the early 1980s, interest in environmental causes of Parkinson’s disease was ignited by the description of a cluster of parkinsonism produced by the chemical,1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), which causes symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in humans and experimental animals. Following this, scientists have investigated numerous associations between environmental exposures and Parkinson’s disease.
- Genetic Factors
- When persons with Parkinson’s disease (cases) are compared to those without the disease (controls), cases report more family members with the disease than do controls. However, studies in populations of twins—who are either genetically similar or even identical—do not support a major genetic effect for the development of Parkinson’s disease.
In a small percentage of individuals, however, Parkinson’s disease has been associated with mutations in certain genes.
- When persons with Parkinson’s disease (cases) are compared to those without the disease (controls), cases report more family members with the disease than do controls. However, studies in populations of twins—who are either genetically similar or even identical—do not support a major genetic effect for the development of Parkinson’s disease.
- Combined factors (gene-environment interactions)
- In general, genetic and physical states probably affect each person’s likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease differently, making them more or less vulnerable to certain common exposures, such as pesticides or solvents.
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