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Causes Of Parkinson's Disease

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Parkinson’s disease is a progressive late-onset disorder that affects the nervous system. The part of the brain that is most affected is the substantia nigra which controls balance and movement. Consequently, the most noted symptoms of this disease are tremors, inability to move, stiffness, or reduced coordination and balance. Scientists have identified many genes that contribute to Parkinson’s but also suggest that the nature of the disease comes from both genetic and environmental factors. The genes we know so far are: LRRK2, PARK2, PARK7, PINK1 (PARK6), SNCA, GBA, and UCHL1; the last two are attributed to developing family history of Parkinson’s and not developing the disease in that individual. In the PARK2, PARK6, and PARK7 genes, in order …show more content…

If someone’s mitochondria produces superoxide in the electron transport chain, this can cause a dismutation (an unproportionate reaction) into hydrogen peroxide and from there to a hydroxyl free-radical. These radicals basically call for early-onset aging of cells and slow cell turnover. Free radicals have the ability to damage the cell’s DNA, lipids and proteins which has the potential to attack the body’s state of homeostasis. So basically any of the aforementioned factors acts like a several front war on the brain. Other “internally generated sources of free radicals include: Xanthine oxidase, Peroxisomes, inflammation, Phagocytosis, Arachidonate pathways, exercise, and Ischemia/reperfusion injury”. “Some externally generated sources of free radicals are: cigarette smoke, environmental pollutants, radiation, certain drugs, pesticides, industrial solvents, and …show more content…

The protein responsible for this is alpha-synuclein. So in the body, it just takes one cell to have a mutation that prevents the protein from folding correctly. Since these proteins are misfolded, they cannot breakdown and they actually start to build up forming Lewy bodies. These bodies obstruct the cell and inhibit neuron transfers and functions. The crazy part of this is that the protein from the original cell then spreads to another and to another eventually causing premature cell death. Since these cells cannot repair themselves and the protein spreads, not the DNA (although it can through mitosis), it makes the disease and irreversible one. The treatments we know of may only slow the growth but not stop the

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