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Parkinson's disease - Causes

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of Parkinson's disease

Causes:

The exact cause of Parkinson s disease is unknown. Scientists think that Parkinson s is probably due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Genetic Factors

Specific genetic factors appear to play a strong role in early-onset Parkinson's disease, an uncommon form of the disease. Recent research suggests that multiple genetic factors may also be involved in some cases of late-onset Parkinson's disease.

Environmental Factors

Environmental factors alone are probably not a cause of Parkinson's disease, but they may trigger the condition in people who are genetically susceptible.

Some evidence implicates pesticides and herbicides as possible factors in some cases of Parkinson's disease. A higher incidence of parkinsonism has long been noted in people who live in rural areas, particularly those who drink private well water or are agricultural workers.

Resources

www.ninds.nih.gov -- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
www.aan.com -- American Academy of Neurology
www.apdaparkinson.org -- American Parkinson's Disease Association
www.pdf.org -- Parkinson's Disease Foundation
www.parkinson.org -- National Parkinson Foundation
www.michaeljfox.org -- Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
www.wemove.org -- Worldwide Education and Awareness for Movement Disorders
www.parkinsonsaction.org -- Parkinson's Action Network

References

Benabid AL, Chabardes S, Mitrofanis J, Pollak P. Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Lancet Neurol. 2009 Jan;8(1):67-81.

Deuschl G, Schade-Brittinger C, Krack P, Volkmann J, Schafer H, Botzel K, et al. A randomized trial of deep-brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease. N Engl J Med. 2006 Aug 31;355(9):896-908.

Goodwin VA, Richards SH, Taylor RS, Taylor AH, Campbell JL. The effectiveness of exercise interventions for people with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Mov Disord. 2008 Apr 15;23(5):631-40.

Katzenschlager R, Head J, Schrag A, Ben-Shlomo Y, Evans A, Lees AJ; Parkinson's Disease Research Group of the United Kingdom. Fourteen-year final report of the randomized PDRG-UK trial comparing three initial treatments in PD. Neurology. 2008 Aug 12;71(7):474-80. Epub 2008 Jun 25.

Lang A. Parkinsonism. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 433.

Lang AE. When and how should treatment be started in Parkinson disease? Neurology. 2009 Feb 17;72(7 Suppl):S39-43.

Lewitt PA. Levodopa for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. N Engl J Med. 2008 Dec 4;359(23):2468-76.

Miyasaki JM, Shannon K, Voon V, Ravina B, Kleiner-Fisman G, Anderson K, et al. Practice Parameter: evaluation and treatment of depression, psychosis, and dementia in Parkinson disease (an evidence-based review): report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2006 Apr 11;66(7):996-1002.

Olanow CW, Stern MB, Sethi K. The scientific and clinical basis for the treatment of Parkinson disease (2009). Neurology. 2009 May 26;72(21 Suppl 4):S1-136.

Pahwa R, Factor SA, Lyons KE, Ondo WG, Gronseth G, Bronte-Stewart H, et al. Practice Parameter: treatment of Parkinson disease with motor fluctuations and dyskinesia (an evidence-based review): report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2006 Apr 11;66(7):983-95.

Poewe W. Treatments for Parkinson disease--past achievements and current clinical needs. Neurology. 2009 Feb 17;72(7 Suppl):S65-73.

Schade R, Andersohn F, Suissa S, Haverkamp W, Garbe E. Dopamine agonists and the risk of cardiac-valve regurgitation. N Engl J Med. 2007 Jan 4;356(1):29-38.

Storch A, Jost WH, Vieregge P, Spiegel J, Grelich W, Durner J, et al. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on symptomatic effects of coenzyme Q10 in Parkinson disease. Arch Neurol. 2007 July;64(7):938-944. Epub 2007 May 14.

Suchowersky O, Reich S, Perlmutter J, Zesiewicz T, Gronseth G, Weiner WJ; Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Practice Parameter: diagnosis and prognosis of new onset Parkinson disease (an evidence-based review): report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2006 Apr 11;66(7):968-75.

Thurman DJ, Stevens JA, Rao JK; Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Practice parameter: Assessing patients in a neurology practice for risk of falls (an evidence-based review): report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of theAmerican Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2008 Feb 5;70(6):473-9.

Weaver FM, Follett K, Stern M, Hur K, Harris C, Marks WJ Jr, et al. Bilateral deep brain stimulation vs best medical therapy for patients with advanced Parkinson disease: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2009 Jan 7;301(1):63-73.

Zanettini R, Antonini A, Gatto G, Gentile R, Tesei S, Pezzoli G. Valvular heart disease and the use of dopamine agonists for Parkinson's disease. N Engl J Med. 2007 Jan 4;356(1):39-46.

Reviewed last on: 8/4/2009
Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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