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| Parkinson’s disease is caused by the deterioration of nerve cells in the brain, which can be prompted by a number of factors.
Parkinson’s disease is
caused by the deterioration of nerve cells in the brain, but it's still not
clear what causes these cells to deteriorate in some people and not others. A
new study has
found a specific gene mutation linked to the early onset of Parkinson's
disease. The team hope the finding could help them better determine an
individual's risk for the disease and develop personalized medical
care for people with a family history of the disease.
The study, which is now
published online in the journal Neurobiology of Aging, found that a
gene which produces dopamine in the brain appears to accelerate the onset of
Parkinson's disease in Caucasians, particularly in individuals under 50. For
example, the average Caucasian with one bad version of this gene developed
Parkinson’s symptoms five years earlier and had a 23 percent increased risk for
the disease, according to a news release by
Iowa State University researchers.
The gene only seems to
be a predictor of Parkinson's in younger individuals, and could not be used as
a strong predictor of developing Parkinson’s in people over 50.
"As we age, we
progressively make less dopamine, and this effect strongly outweighs the
genetic influences from the 'bad version' of this gene,” explained Joseph
Webb, a graduate research assistant involved in the research, in the news release.
According to Webb, because older individuals naturally make less dopamine, the
effects of this genetic mutation are not noticeable.
Parkinson’s disease is
a serious disorder of the nervous system that affects around one million
Americans. The disease is characterized by gradual
problems with movement, often starting with hand tremors before
progressing to slurred speech and loss of mobility.
This is not the first
time genes have been identified as a factor to the onset of Parkinson's. For
example, according to The Mayo
Clinic, there are a number of gene variations that increase the risk
of Parkinson's disease. However, it must be noted that there is a relatively
small risk of Parkinson's disease for each of these genetic markers.
In addition, the Mayo Clinic reports that exposure to
certain toxins and environmental factors can increase the risk of developing
Parkinson’s later on in life, although this risk is also relatively small.
For example, according to The National Parkinson's Foundation, many
chemicals used in fields such as welding, farming, military activities and
industrial processes have been associated with the disease.
Source: Webb J,
WIllette AA, Aging modifies the effect of GCH1 RS11158026 on DAT uptake and
Parkinson's disease clinical severity. Neurobiology of Aging 2016
http://www.medicaldaily.com/early-onset-parkinsons-causes-genetic-mutation-associated-increased-risk-405226
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Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Early-Onset Parkinson’s Causes: Genetic Mutation Associated With Increased Risk For Disease Development
Nov 29, 2016 01:07 PM By
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