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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffThe exact cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, but several factors appear to play a role, including:
- Your genes. Researchers have found specific genetic mutations that likely play a role in Parkinson's disease. In addition, scientists suspect that many more changes in genes — whether inherited or caused by an environmental exposure — may be responsible for Parkinson's disease.
- Environmental triggers. Exposure to toxins or certain viruses may trigger Parkinson's signs and symptoms.
In addition, numerous changes are found in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease. The role of these factors in the development of the disease, if any, isn't clear, however. These changes include:
- A lack of dopamine. Many symptoms of Parkinson's disease result from the lack of a chemical messenger, called dopamine, in the brain. This occurs when the specific brain cells that produce dopamine die or become impaired. Why and exactly how this happens isn't known.
- Low norepinephrine levels. People with Parkinson's disease also have damage to the nerve endings that make another important chemical messenger called norepinephrine. Norepinephrine plays a role in regulating the autonomic nervous system, which controls automatic functions, such as blood pressure regulation.
- The presence of Lewy bodies. Unusual protein clumps called Lewy bodies are found in the brains of many people with Parkinson's disease. How they got there and what type of damage, if any, Lewy bodies might cause is still unknown.
References
- Parkinson's disease: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/parkinsons_disease/detail_parkinsons_disease.htm. Accessed March 29, 2010.
- Parkinson's disease. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec16/ch221/ch221g.html. Accessed March 29, 2010.
- Chou KL. Clinical manifestations of Parkinson disease. http://wwwuptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 12, 2010.
- Stacy M. Medical treatment of Parkinson disease. Neurology Clinics. 2009;27:605.
- Schapira AHV. Etiology and pathogenesis of Parkinson disease. Neurology Clinics. 2009;27:583.
- Gallager C. Parkinson's disease. In: Rakel D. Integrative Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/192217229-3/976194918/1494/64.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2954-0..50021-1_683. Accessed March 31, 2010.
- Tarsy D. Pharmacological treatment of Parkinson disease. http://wwwuptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 12, 2010.
- Fitness counts. National Parkinson Foundation. http://www2.parkinson.org/Document.Doc?&id=55. Accessed April 1, 2010.
- Parkinson's disease. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed April 1, 2010.
- Ahlskog JE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 2, 2010.
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