Acquiring Parkinson's
Parkinson's disease is a neurological brain disorder that develops in most adults after the age of 50. It does not discriminate against men or women unequally. The inheritance pattern of Parkinson's, if any, is not yet known. The majority of Parkinson's cases occur in people with no family history of the disorder. According to Genetics Home Reference, only around 15 percent of people who have Parkinson's disease have a family history of the disorder. Some people who inherit the gene that causes Parkinson's develop the actual condition while others can live their entire lives without showing any symptoms yet pass the altered gene on to their offspring.
Genetic Mutations
The genetic mutations of LRRK2, PARK2, PARK7, PINK1 and SNCA cause Parkinson's while mutations of GBA, SNCAIP and UCHL1 are associated with Parkinson's. In family cases of Parkinson's, the inheritance differs depending on the modified gene. When the LRRK2 or SNCA gene is involved, Parkinson's is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, meaning one copy of a changed gene in each cell is enough to cause the disorder. In PARK2, PARK7 or PINK1 genes, Parkinson's is inherited via the autosomal recessive pattern, where two copies of the gene in each cell are altered. Usually, the parents of someone with autosomal recessive Parkinson's individually carry one copy of the altered gene but do not show any Parkinson's signs or symptoms. For the GBA gene associated with the disorder, the inheritance pattern is still unclear. SNCAIP and UCHL1 mutations inheritance patterns are unknown and have been identified in only a few individuals. It's still unclear whether these mutations are related to Parkinson disease.
How a Person is Affected
Normally, nerve cells in the brain produce an essential chemical known as dopamine. Dopamine creates smooth, coordinated functions of the body's muscles and movement. When specific nerve cells or neurons die or become impaired, the onset of Parkinson's is apparent. The symptoms of Parkinson's disease appear when roughly 80 percent of the dopamine-producing cells are damaged, according to the National Parkinson Foundation. A person will experience tremors, slowness of movement, stiffness, difficulty balancing, cramped handwriting, stiff facial expressions, a shuffling walk, muffled speech and possible depression.
Tags: Parkinson disease, altered gene, associated with, autosomal recessive, each cell, family history, family history disorder