Know The Causes Of Grandpa’s Parkinson’s Disease

All of us love our grandpas and may be really concerned when they are afflicted with Parkinson’s disease, a chronic and progressive movement disorder that has afflicted a million people in the United States Of America. This disease that is characterized by body shakes especially the hands, unsteady balance, rigid muscles and slow movements has no cure though various treatment options like medications and surgery is used to manage the symptoms.

In spite of intensive research the exact cause of Parkinson disease is not known even today; however many experts are of the opinion that this disease is caused due to 2 main factors, namely genetic and environmental with the factors varying from person to person. While genetic factors played a role in many, environmental toxin or other events could also contribute to the onset of this disease with those above the age of 60 years being at a risk of being afflicted with Parkinson disease.

The first predominant cause of Parkinson disease is genetic factors; it is however significant to understand that in most of the cases of Parkinson disease it is not directly inherited. On deep analysis it is found that in 15 to 25% of the cases you would find one of the relative also having a similar disability. Again studies have proved that those having a first degree relative as a parent or a sibling have 4 to 9% higher chances of developing Parkinson disease.

It is also significant to note that though several gene mutations have been discovered to cause the disease directly, it has affected only a few families with such gene mutations. Again some of these gene mutations play a role in dopamine cell functions; Parkinson’s in individuals at an early age are due to mutations in genes for parkin, PINK1, LRRK2, DJ-1, and glucocerebrosidase, among others.

The next predominant cause for Parkinson disease is environmental factors; scientists that have studied this aspect have found that it could be as a result of exposure to environment toxins or injury. Research in epidemiology has found that Parkinson disease could be linked with rural living, well water, manganese and pesticides.

Some more studies have been carried on in this direction that has demonstrated that the exposure to certain chemicals elevate the risk of getting Parkinson disease. These chemicals include herbicides like paraquat and 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, insecticides like permethrin and beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH) and fungicides like Maneb.

Lastly a synthetic neurotoxin agent called MPTP that was discovered in synthetic form of heroin that individuals injected themselves with was found to cause immediate and permanent Parkinsonism; though this type of Parkinson disease is very rare. Once we know the cause of Parkinson disease, we need to look for methods to treat it and bring quality lives again for them.   

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