Parkinson's Disease
Description
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease, the second most prevalent such disorder after Alzheimer’s disease. It is a slowly progressive disease caused by the death of small clusters of cells in the midbrain that results in reduction of a critical neurotransmitter called dopamine, the chemical messenger responsible for coordinated muscle movement. While research shows that genetic factors play a significant role in one type of Parkinson’s called early-onset in which symptoms begin before the age of 50, genetic predisposition is not considered a contributing factor when symptoms develop later in life. NIEHS-funded researchers have identified 12 susceptibility genes that may make some people more likely to develop Parkinson’s later in life. Other researchers are testing the hypothesis that Parkinson’s may be triggered by contact with pesticides and other chemical pollutants.
What NIEHS is Doing on Parkinson's Disease
- Exploring the haunting legacy – benomyl and Parkinson’s (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2013/2/science-parkinsons/index.htm)
- Understanding individual susceptibility to environmental toxicants (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/12/science-Bowman/index.htm)
- Connecting the dots in Parkinson’s disease (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/7/science-parkinsons/index.htm)
- CNS program participants gather at NIEHS (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/6/science-cns/index.htm)
- Arsenic Exposure and Motor Function among Children in Bangladesh (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1103548)
- Strength in Numbers: Three Separate Studies Link in Utero Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure and Cognitive Development (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1104137)
- Is Spit the Future in Diagnosis of Preclinical Parkinson's? (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/july/science-spit/index.cfm)
- Meta-Analysis of the Relationship Between Parkinson's and Melanoma
- Neuroinflammation and α-Synuclein Dysfunction Potentiate Each Other, Driving Chronic Progression of Neurodegeneration in a Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1003013)
- Rotenone, Paraquat, and Parkinson’s Disease (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1002839)
- Deciphering a Core Process in Parkinson's Disease (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/march/science-deciphering)
- NIH Study Finds Two Pesticides Associated with Parkinson's Disease
- Workshop Examines the Role of Air Pollution on Neural Health (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/march/spotlight-workshop/)
- Upcoming Distinguished Lecture by Maiken Nedergaard (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/february/science-upcoming/)
- Novel Regulation of Parkin Function through c-Abl-Mediated Tyrosine Phosphorylation: Implications for Parkinson's Disease
- Association of Cumulative Lead Exposure with Parkinson’s Disease (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1002339)
- Promising Target for Parkinson's Disease Treatment
- Depression and the Subsequent Risk of Parkinson's Disease in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study
- Study Well Positioned to Look at Age-Related Disease (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2010/may/science-study.cfm)
- Harry Promotes Exercise at Santa Fe Public Forum (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2010/april/spotlight-harry.cfm)
- Study Confirms Link to Lower Risk of Parkinson's (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2010/april/science-study.cfm)
- Increased Risk of Parkinson's Disease with PON1 Gene Variant and Pesticide Exposure (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2010/january/science-parkinson.cfm)
- Well-Water Consumption and Parkinson’s Disease in Rural California (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.0900852)
- Harry Gives Special Guest Lecture at Stereology Workshop (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2009/november/spotlight-stereology.cfm)
- Pesticide Exposure and Parkinson's Disease (PD) in the Agricultural Health Study (AHS)
- Bacterial Toxin Linked to Parkinson's
- Pesticide Exposure Raises Risk of Parkinson's Disease
- Mouse Model Shows Early Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2009/august/science-mouse.cfm)
- Reproductive Factors, Exogenous Estrogen Use, and Risk of Parkinson's Disease
- Dopamine Transporter Genetic Variants and Pesticides in Parkinson’s Disease (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.0800277)
- Understanding Parkinson’s as a Disability (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2009/may/understand-parkinson.cfm)
- Columbia University Researcher Discusses Mitochondrial Disorders (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2009/february/mitochondrial-disorders.cfm)
- Meeting Report: Consensus Statement—Parkinson’s Disease and the Environment: Collaborative on Health and the Environment and Parkinson’s Action Network (CHE PAN) Conference 26–28 June 2007 (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.11702)
- Vitamin D Insufficiency Common in Parkinson's Patients (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2008/november/vitamin-d.cfm)
- NIEHS Invests $21.25 Million to Find Environmental Causes of Parkinson's Disease
- Dopamine Transmission Impaired by Manganese
- Is Exposure to Air Pollution a Risk Factor for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases?
- Is the Mitochondrial Protein Mortalin Associated with the Progression of Parkinson's Disease
- Modifying Risk Factors in Neurodegenerative Diseases (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2008/september/neuro-dgn-diseases.cfm)
- Parkinson's Disease Linked to Vitamin D Deficiency
- Statin Drugs Reduce the Risk of Parkinson's Disease
- High Blood Urate Levels Linked to Lower Risk of Parkinson's Disease
- Iron and Paraquat are Synergistic Risk Factors for Parkinson's Disease
- Loss of Norepinephrine Causes Parkinson-Like Tremor in Mice
- Parkinson-like Degenerative Changes Linked to Reduced Dopamine Storage
- Regular Use of NSAIDS May Reduce the Risk of Parkinson's Disease
- PI Outlines Upcoming Developments in Nicotinic Receptor Research (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2007/july/science-pi.cfm)
- Duke Researcher Discusses Models of Neurodegenerative Diseases (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2007/june/science-duke.cfm)
- Whole-Body Lifetime Occupational Lead Exposure and Risk of Parkinson’s Disease (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.9102)
- Extramural Guest Lecturer on PD Risk Factors (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2006/november/science-extramural.cfm)
- Intramural Lecturer Presents Combined Therapy Model for PD (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2006/november/science-intramural.cfm)
- Parkinson's Researchers Hold Annual Meeting (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2006/november/spotlight-parkinsons.cfm)
- Manganese Pathway Linked to Motor Deficits (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2006/october/science-manganese.cfm)
- More Evidence for Parkinson's Disease and Pesticide Link (DERT Profile - 2006)
- New Study Explores Nicotine's Potential as Protection against Parkinson's (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2006/september/science-new.cfm)
- Early Environmental Origins of Neurodegenerative Disease in Later Life (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.7571)
- Neurodegenerative Diseases: An Overview of Environmental Risk Factors (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.7567)
- Dopamine and L-dopa Dissolve Protein Bundles Associated with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease
- Parkinson's Disease: Environment Plays a Larger Role than Genetics in Swedish Twins
- Pesticides and Parkinson Disease (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.112-a548b)
- Protective Effects of Caffeine in Animal Models of Parkinson's Disease
- Silent Latency Periods in Methylmercury Poisoning and in Neurodegenerative Disease (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.02110s5851)
- Aging & Neuroepidemiology
- Center for Gene-Environment Studies in Parkinson's Disease
- Centers for Neurodegeneration Science (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/dert/cospb/programs/neurodegen/index.cfm) (http://www.niehs.nih.govhttp://edit:9992/Rhythmyx/assembler/render?sys_authtype=0&sys_variantid=567&sys_revision=2&sys_contentid=74100&sys_context=0)
- Collaborative Centers for Parkinson's Disease Environmental Research
- Environmental, Genetic, & Cellular Determinants of Parkinson's Disease
- Ion Channel Physiology Group
- Parkinson's, Genes & Environment (PAGE)
- Testing Status: L-Dopa M940125
General Information
- Environmental Health Perspective, Environews by Topic: Parkinson Disease
- Parkinson's Disease
- Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms: Candidate Gene
- Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms: Susceptibility
- Talking to Your Doctor - Resources from NIH
- The Role of the Environment in Parkinson's Disease (1MB)
