Parkinson's Disease / Movement Disorder Causes
In Parkinson's Disease / Movement Disorder, certain nerve cells (neurons) in the brain gradually break down or die. Many of the symptoms are due to a loss of neurons that produce a chemical messenger in your brain called dopamine. When dopamine levels decrease, it causes atypical brain activity, leading to impaired movement and other symptoms of Parkinson's Disease / Movement Disorder.
The cause of Parkinson's Disease / Movement Disorder is unknown, but several factors appear to play a role, including:
- Genes: Researchers have identified specific genetic changes that can cause Parkinson's Disease / Movement Disorder. But these are uncommon except in rare cases with many family members affected by Parkinson's Disease / Movement Disorder.
- Environmental Triggers: Exposure to certain toxins or environmental factors may increase the risk of later Parkinson's Disease / Movement Disorder, but the risk is small.
Researchers have also noted that many changes occur in the brains of people with Parkinson's Disease / Movement Disorder, although it's not clear why these changes occur. These changes include:
- The presence of Lewy bodies: Clumps of specific substances within brain cells are microscopic markers of Parkinson's Disease / Movement Disorder.
- Alpha-synuclein found within Lewy bodies: Although many substances are found within Lewy bodies, scientists believe an important one is the natural and widespread protein called alpha-synuclein (a-synuclein).