Parkinson's Disease

PD is characterized by a loss of neurons (brain cells) in the substantia nigra located in the mid brain. These neurons produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. Symptoms of PD usually only appear after the loss of dopamine exceeds 80%. The production of ROTS-Reactive Oxygen Toxic Species are the major causes of death of neurons- indeed also for most of our other degenerative diseases like heart disease,cancer, diabetes, dementia etc. These species are called free radicals. Because they lack an electron in their outer rings they take away or steal electrons from macromolecules like DNA, RNA, proteins and lipids. Although in the process they have become stable, they have produced damage to the electron donor molecules, e.g for DNA- resulting in mutations; for proteins- autoimmunity and so on.
The brain is an ideal organ for such oxidation reactions.
1. It is the organ in the body with the largest amount of polyunsaturated lipids an excellent substrate for lipid peroxidation recognized easily diagnosed by our kitchen staff as rancidity
2. It receives 20% of the blood circulation for an organ just the size of your 2 clenched fists and weighing only about 2 pounds
3. The brain also houses large amounts of iron an ideal source for donor electrons needed to initiate and catalyze the oxidative stress reaction.
ROTS are generated in one of 2 ways: intrinsically by normal metabolism or extrinsically by ingestion of alcohol,various drugs and other neurotoxins. Let us review some of the extrinsic causes.
Scientific literature has discussed the mechanism for the designer drug MPTP and why young adults can get the symptoms A drug review of such young adults showing the tremor,rigidity and other features of PD might prove interesting. I want to relate my family experience.My dad was a gardener by occupation. One wet summer season he had to dust the entire potato crop by hand- over 20 acres I cant recall which insecticide he used but I remember he did not use a mask. Within a few years he developed the symptoms of PD. A few years ago using the same duster, but spraying a potato crop on a much smaller scale , I began noticing involuntary twitching of my thumbs. As a medical doctor I had heard of the use of Eldepryl for PD and began taking it . I was surprised to notice that within a few days my twitching stopped. It has not returned and fortunately I don't have any Parkinson's symptoms- yet. Incidently the neurologist had put my dad on artane even though levodopa and I believe also bromocriptine was available at the time.