Parkinson Disease (cont.)
Medical Author:
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhDDr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications. Medical Editor:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical EditorMelissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology. IN THIS ARTICLE
Parkinson's Disease CausesThe causes of Parkinson disease remain unclear; clinicians and researchers have clear evidence that the nerve cells that produce dopamine in the brain's region known as the substantia nigra are altered and lost (destroyed). The challenge that remains is to discover how these neurons are destroyed to cause Parkinson's disease. Advances in genetics have lead researchers to discover that about 10% of people that develop the disease are due to multiple genetic factors, but these people usually are younger than 50. The majority of researchers suggest that a combination of genetic and environmental factors cause about 90% of cases of PD, but how these factors interact to alter and destroy brain cells thus producing PD is not well understood. A few theories and risk factors are listed below that may offer additional information and clues that may help lead to a better understanding of PD causes.
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Viewer Comments & ReviewsParkinson's Disease - Effective TreatmentThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What treatment has been effective for your Parkinson's disease? Parkinson's Disease: What Age of Onset and SymptomsThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:At what age did Parkinson's first appear, and what were the symptoms? Parkinson's Disease - MedicationsThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:Which medications are you taking for Parkinson's disease? Do they help? Parkinson's Disease - StagesThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What stage of Parkinson's disease do you or your loved one have? |
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Parkinson Disease »
Parkinson disease (Parkinson's disease, PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with a loss of dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons.
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