What Causes Parkinson´s Disease?

Two hundred years after the Parkinson´s disease was discovered, and despite the hard, intense study done by experts during the last decades. An actual cause of PD has not been discovered or confirmed. However, many believe that there are two actual causes which are genetic and external or environmental factors.


Genetic Factors:

According to studies the majority of PD´s patients have not inherited the disease. Only about 15-25% of the people diagnosed with Parkinson´s disease have reported that they have a relative that presented the same disease. In addition, the studies also reflect that those who have a first degree relative with PD have a four to nine percent to acquire it, having a higher risk to develop PD among those who have no relatives diagnosed with PD.

Though several gene mutation have been pointed as a cause of Parkinson´s disease, but only a small percentage of families are affected by it. This mutation includes genes that act in dopamine cells functions. Parkinson´s have been discovered in early age individuals who have been discovered with mutations in genes for parkin, PINK1, LRRK2, DJ-1, and glucocerebrosidase, among others.



Environmental factors:

On the other hand there is also a belief that Parkinson´s is a consequence of exposure to an environmental toxin or injury. Epidemiological research has identified rural living, well water, manganese and pesticides are some of the factor that may be attached to Parkinson’s.

Some studies show that the prolonged exposure to certain chemicals increase or are associated to PD such as ecticides permethrin and beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH), the herbicides paraquat and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic among others. Parkinson´s disease was recently added to the list of Agent Orange related diseases.

Cases of MPTP-induced Parkinson’s in the general population are exceedingly rare, this neurotoxin was also identified as a cause of immediate and permanent Parkinsonism which is similar but not the same as Parkinson´s disease.

Experts continue to research Genetic and Environmental factors that can cause PD, as of Today the controversy have increase but not an exact reason or cause have been indentified or prooven.

Symptoms

Parkinson´s disease symptoms vary from person to person, and may appear unnoticed at the early stages or can begin at one part of your body and then spreading to the rest at a slow step. The PD symptoms differ between Primary and Secondary Motor Symptoms and NonMotor Symptoms.

Primary Motor Symptoms:

Resting Tremor: during the first stages of Parkinson´s Disease most of the people tend to experience an insignificant tremor on one hand or foot on one side of the body. Tremor is a shaky, unsteady movement that occurs when the muscle is relaxed or at rest, from here the term ¨Resting Tremor¨. The tremor can get worse when the person is excited, nervous or under pressure.

Bradykinesia: meaning ¨slow movement¨Bradykinesia is described as a reduction on the impulsive, willing movement which manifestates an abnormal stillness and reduction on facial expressions.

Rigidity: causes inflexibility and stiffness on limbs, neck and trunk. This won´t allow the muscle to stretch and relax, it will stay contracted.

Postural Instability: tendency to be unsteady, moving back when standing upright. The lack of balance when making turns, quick movement or even standing up from a chair may lead to constant falls backwards or difficult recovery of balance.

Secondary Motor Symptoms:

Freezing: the person diagnosed with Parkinson´s may experience it before making a movement or giving a step foward. This gives the feeling as if the foot is stuck or glued to the floor. Most of the time this ¨Freezing¨ is temporary, and increases the risk of falling forward.

Micrographia: contraction or reduction in handwriting that advances as the person with PD writes. This happens as a consequence of Bradykinesia (difficulty with repetitive actions)

Mask-like Expression: this is a result of rigidity and bradykinesia which reduces the facial expressions.

Unwanted Accelerations: unwanted or unconscious accelerations in speech an movement also increasing the risk of falls and becoming hard to understand when talking.

Nonmotor Symptoms:

* REM disorders (sleep disorders)
* Loss of senses
* Constipation
* Attitude disorders
* Sexual problems
* Cognitive issues

It is important to mention that not all symptoms are experienced and it varies. In addition, please notice that Parkinsonism is similar to Parkison´s Disease, but it is caused by certain medicines, a different nervous system disorder, or another illness.

Diagnosis

There is no “one way” to diagnose Parkinson’s disease(PD). However, there are various symptoms and diagnostic tests used in combination since it is not easy to make an accurate diagnose at the early stages of the disease. You will learn PD´s different symptoms as well as the various Parkinsonism syndromes that often mimic the symptoms of Parkinson´s disease.



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