Cause of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease, commonly known as PD, is a type of degenerative disorder of the brain and the central nervous system that is mainly characterized by impairment of various motor neuron skills, general speech and other functions of the patient. PD is generally classified as a movement disorder in which the patient suffers from rigidity of the muscles, slowing of the physical movements in the feet and limbs and decrease in or loss of the ability to move the neck.

Causes of Parkinson's Disease

• Despite the fact that Parkinsonism was first described by British physician James Parkinson in 1817 (britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/444155/James-Parkinson), as of 2009, the exact cause of this disease is still unknown. Most people suffering from Parkinson's are described as having an idiopathic type of Parkinson's, that is, without any specific cause. However, various risk factors, such as genetics, toxic substances and trauma, are often associated with Parkinson's disease.

Hereditary/Genetic Factors

• Genetics is generally considered to be one of the factors that lead to the development of Parkinson's disease. However, according to "Parkinson's Disease Risk Factors," by Mayo Clinic staff (January 14, 2009), although having close relatives who have PD increases the chances of an individual developing PD, the risk is thought to be less than 5 percent.

Toxins

• According to a study conducted by the Mayo Clinic, exposure to environmental toxins and pollutants is often considered to be one of the causes of Parkinson's. Such toxins generally lead to the selective degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons present in the body, hence causing the disease. One such toxin is methyl phenyl- 4- tetrahydropyridine (MPTH), which a patient can be exposed to by means of environmental pollution or through certain drugs, such as opium. Exposure to this toxic substance leads to the degeneration of various motor neurons in the body, which can lead to Parkinson's.
  Other common toxins that are considered to be factors in the development of Parkinson's include paraquat (a form of herbicide) and maneb (a fungicide). A person is usually exposed to these toxins by drinking contaminated water.

Head Injuries

• In an article published on May 23, 2003, Bob Beale of ABC Science Online reported that according to a Mayo Clinic study conducted with 196 people who participated in the Rochester Epidemiology Project, people who have had a significant head injury are 4 times more likely to develop Parkinson's later in life, as compared to others who have not experienced such injuries. The study also states that the risk of developing Parkinson's increases by 8 times if the injury necessitates hospitalization and 11 times in the case of individuals who have experienced severe head injuries.

Other Factors

• Age is considered to lead to Parkinson's in some cases. According to scientists and doctors at the Mayo Clinic, as a person gets older, the degeneration of dopamine neurons also increases, which causes the loss of antioxidative protection mechanisms and thus can lead to Parkinson's.
  In some cases, viral infections such influenza and hepatitis are also considered one of the causes of Parkinson's, although no valid proof is available that supports this theory.