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Four Risk Factors Associated with Parkinson's Disease

Some people believe that Parkinson's disease is just bad luck of the draw while many medical experts believe that there is a propensity for it given the right set of conditions. Parkinson's disease does not discriminate by sex and people of all ages can get it, although it is primarily an "old person's disease." Do you know the risk factors that many medical experts feel could be precursors for the disease?

Age

Yes, younger adults do develop Parkinson's disease. However, the disease predominantly occurs in older people. Parkinson's manifests itself in middle to late middle age and the risk of developing it increases as you get older. There is a camp of researchers that feel people who develop it in later years, likely were exposed to something or had an injury that could affect the propensity toward it.

Sex

While both sexes get the disease, men do show a greater inclination of developing it. There are a number of theories why such as the X chromosome having a genetic predisposition for it while other theorize that males are harder on their bodies than women and may experience injury early in life that could contribute to Parkinson's later. In addition, some medical researchers feel that females with normal estrogen levels are somewhat protected because estrogen has shown protective properties with neurons (nerve cells) in the brain. However, women in a post-menopausal state that do not look to hormone replacement therapy may have a slightly increased chance of getting the disease.

Heredity

Scientists have discovered a gene called alpha-synuclein that plays a part in indicating Parkinson's disease. People who develop the disease have almost twice the chance of developing the disease. The increased risk is genetic so anyone with close family members of have or have had the disease should consider being tested for that gene level. It is important to note that less than 6% of patients with Parkinson have had family who also had the disease so heredity is just a small factor in disease development.

Environmental factors

If your work has you exposed to a number of pesticides, chemicals and herbicides, you are at greater risk of developing Parkinson's. The reason is that dopamine production can be hindered by some chemicals found in these substances. Constant exposure to pesticides and chemicals boost the damage caused by free radicals.

There are other considerations that can play a part in Parkinson's disease development. Many researchers are sure studies will eventually show that previous head trauma will directly tie into cases of Parkinson's. Injury to the cervical spine area as well as the neck and head has been confirmed in a small percentage of cases but don't lead to the disease right away. Vitamin B deficiencies have also shown promise in lab settings that it too may be a contributing cause of Parkinson's disease. As thousands of people every year are diagnosed with the disease, it is likely a combination of multiple factors that contribute to the development of the disease. While age is the predominant factor, just think of a few of the younger people who get it like actor Michael J. Fox and know that it could happen to anyone.