Parkinson’s disease: are you at a risk?

Are you at a risk for the development of Parkinson's disease? Know these responsible factors.

Parkinson's disease is the second most prevalent neurological disorder after dementia. It is characterised by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons, along with an abnormal accumulation of a protein (synuclein) in the brain. The exact causes for this disease have not been identified yet, but researchers have found certain risk factors that may appear to be associated with the development of this disease. Some of these factors include:

1. Age

Ageing is one of the key risk factors of Parkinson's disease. While young adults rarely face the threat of Parkinsonism, middle aged and older people are more likely to suffer from the problems related to Parkinson's disease.

2. Inheritance of mutated genes

15-25% of most patients are likely to suffer from genetic Parkinson's disease. The chances also increase if it is detected among close family members. Mutation of Parkin gene is primarily responsible for the onset of Parkinson's disease and thus inheritance of this mutated gene is the key factor for the development of this disease. In addition to that, the inheritance of certain other genes like PINK1, LRRK2, DJ-1, and glucocerebrosidase genes also seems to be associated with the development of Parkinson's disease.

3. Environmental toxins

Over-exposure to environmental toxins (and chemicals) may also be a major factor in the development of Parkinson's disease. Some toxins like herbicides and pesticides inhibit the normal production of dopamine in the brain and also cause over-production of free radicals which may lead to Parkinson's disease.

4. Gender

Research says that men are about 1.5 times more prone to suffering from Parkinson's disease than women. The exact reason has not been identified but it is presumed that more exposure to environmental toxins (working in factories, chemical plants, etc.) makes men more vulnerable to the disease.

5. Head injury

A sudden hard blow to the brain may damage certain parts, causing impairment to normal brain functioning. This may put an individual at high risk of developing several brain disorders including Parkinson's disease.

Image source: Getty images

You may also like to read

• Parkinson's disease treatments and therapies

• World Parkinson's Day 2014: Awareness is the key to fight this disease

• Yoga to help you live with Parkinson's disease

For more articles, visit our diseases and conditions section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our Questions and Answers section.

References:

1. Allam MF, Del Castillo AS, Navajas RF. Parkinson's disease risk factors: genetic, environmental, or both? Neurol Res. 2005 Mar; 27(2):206-8.

2. Priyadarshi A¹, Khuder SA, Schaub EA, Priyadarshi SS. Environmental risk factors and Parkinson's disease: a meta analysis. Environ Res. 2001 Jun; 86(2):122-7.