Parkinson's Disease

[JohnTheRevelator]

I'm researching Parkinson's disease but I'm having a troubled time finding if it is an autosomal dominant or recessive trait. Anyone can help me out?

[Professor Yaffle]

It is not a simple genetic trait. There are some specific genetic mutations that can lead to Parkinson's disease, but these account fo only a tiny number of Parkinson's cases. For the majority of Parkinson's (called idiopathic - meaning 'of unknown cause') there is a slight tendency for sufferers to have a slightly higher rate of relatives with the disease, but that doesn't necessarily imply a genetic cause.


ETA - this might be a good place to start:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson's_disease

It gives a list of know genetic causes of PD, but remember these only account for a very small proportion of the total.

[Professor Yaffle]

As a side note, Parkinson's disease is one of the few diseases for which smoking apparently has a protective effect (though oviously the detrimental effects of smoking on other diseases far outweigh these protective effects).

[Deetee]

As indicated it is multifactorial.
People talk about Parkin gene mutations, however, of which there are several, and are associated with inheritance.

About 20-25% of those with Parkinsons will have a first degree relative who also had it (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8710070?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=1).

However, studies may not always differentiate between genetic risks and other risks (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11344013?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVDocSum) within families such as environmental factors.

[robinson]

A team of researchers at Northwestern University have found in a new study that the blood pressure drug isradipine slowed down the progress of Parkinson's disease in genetically altered lab mice, and in some cases prevented it from occurring.

Isradipine is commonly prescribed to patients to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and to prevent a stroke.

The researchers, led by Professor D. James Surmeier, found the drug rejuvenates aging dopamine cells, whose death in the brain causes the symptoms of the disease; dopamine is a critical chemical messenger in the brain that affects a person's ability to direct his movements.

Parkinson's disease is fatal and there is at present no cure for it.

Dr. Surmeier says they hope the drug will protect dopamine neurons, so that if taken early enough, it will prevent Parkinson's disease, even in those at risk.
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=26213

[Wangler]

For the majority of Parkinson's (called idiopathic - meaning 'of unknown cause') there is a slight tendency for sufferers to have a slightly higher rate of relatives with the disease, but that doesn't necessarily imply a genetic cause.

Both my mother and my sister have Parkinson's.

I have a hunch that environment has a role to play, as well.