Etiology of Parkinson's disease: Genetics and environment revisited

Abstract excerpt

Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder and affects more than 1 million Americans over the age of 55. The disease selectively affects dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta, culminating in their demise. After ≈50% of the dopamine neurons and 75–80% of striatal dopamine is lost, patients start to exhibit the classical symptoms of PD including...