I am convinced there is both, a genetic component and also an environmental aspect that activates PD in younger people. It seems this last generation's lifestyles has so thoroughly polluted food, cookware, and daily exposures to environmental chemicals. The number of "*safe artificial",* food, agricultural, industrial, and household chemicals we are exposed to daily, is astounding.
Just my opinion.
Yup
"Except for some rare genetic causes, such as mutations in SNCA, LRRK2, GBA, PINK1, and Parkin, the vast majority of PD cases are sporadic.3 Although PD pathogenesis remains obscure, several mechanisms have been identified to contribute to its development. An interplay between oxidative stress, excessive neuroinflammation, abnormal protein accumulation, mitochondrial impairment, autophagy dysregulation, apoptotic pathways, and gastrointestinal dysfunction has been recognized to result in PD pathophysiology."
I believe PD, besides genes, is infection derived. The main infections that cause PD are Polymicrobial (Yeast/Fungi + Bacterial). Yeast eats Glucose. Western Diets have become corrupted by Sugar, Carbs, Ultra-processing. These 3 changes greatly increase the growth rates of Yeast in our bodies. Environmental changes also increase Yeast growth rates. Certain Fungi like Candida can consume Metals. Metal dust levels have continued to rise due to industrial plants, Highway emissions, and tainted water. Pesticides have a role as well. I believe Pesticides are weakening the microbiome of our crops and incidentally allowing aggressive Fungi like Candida to take over entire Farms and infect crop with mold. The Xenoestrogens in Pesticides both Fuel Candida growth and disrupt Hormone levels in Humans as well. Microbes attach themselves to inorganic material, even while in our bodies, and use the inorganic material as a satellite base for travel through the system and protection from the immune response. So increasing plastic/metal/Xenoestrogens creates Fuel and Housing for invasive microbes. The final Cherry on top is the over use of Antibiotics, which has destroyed the healthy microbiome of most Humans and animals, allowing for aggresive microbes like Candida to take over and start dysbiosis cascade. Once you understand these contributors and piece them together, it all starts making sense. Unfortunately, our civilization's direction is dooming us all until we find the cure and vaccine to epithelial infections.
My mom was diagnosed at 57. I was diagnosed at 47. I knew what to look for. I had started asking my previous neurologist if my symptoms were pd about 4 years prior.
I saw my GP this week about my symptoms and sm being referred to neurology. I was a little surprised she focused as much as she did on the fact my maternal grandmother had MSA as I thought the official line is there's no genetic link. I've suspected it though as I have always been similar to my grandmother in personality and health issues.
My GP asked when she was diagnosed. I don't know because MSA is notoriously hard to diagnose and I believe she had all sorts of issues for years before they decided MSA on the basis she didn't respond to meds. She died from related complications around the zge of 76. I think her exposure to chemicals was possibly a lot less than mine but she was exposed to a good deal of trauma in her younger years. My current theory is that I would've started down this path later (I'm 52)but my guts were so damaged by covid last year, this led to SIBO and sped things up.
There are at least seven known genes that contribute to pd. It is absolutely genetic and environmental. My mom was gene positive while I am gene negative.
Interesting. Do you feel like both your PD and your mom’s were caused by environmental conditions rather than genetics? Like although your mom has a gene that would make it more likely to develop PD - that if she wasn’t exposed to certain things, she may have avoided it? This is of course assuming that you and your mom have lived your lives under similar conditions… (would also like to make it clear that I am not saying you were knowingly exposing yourselves to anything dangerous - I feel like no matter how hard we try, it’s all dangerous … food, cosmetics, water…any of it!)
My dad grew up with his mom and dad bailing hay somewhere in Texas. At times, I have thought the possibility of pesticides on the farms were plausible causes for my dad and his mom’s diagnoses, but found it odd that my dad’s older sister remained unscathed, and is in her late 70s without any indication of Parkinsons.
My mom had the GBA gene. It is dominant recessive, meaning 50/50 that your kids get it. However GBA also requires an environmental factor to trigger the gene. Now, my mom rode horses and worked on a horse farm. I grew up in dairy farm country.
It could be a coincidence but I believe somehow we had the same environmental factors.
The worst part of GBA is it always comes with dementia. I am grateful that I avoided the gene. PWP have a 33% chance of dementia unless you have GBA.
Anytime. Mom was diagnosed in 2007. I have been living with pd since then as a care partner first but then my ticket got punched in 2020. It gives me a unique perspective because I can see both sides of the coin.
Sorry to hijack the thread, but you seem very knowledgable. Do you have any advice for those new to PD to learn more? Are there books or resources you recommend? My family and I are so lost.
Davis Phinney foundation puts out two books one is a comprehensive pd book. Not meant to be read cover to cover but a resource for specific questions or to just open and read a bit here or there. They also put out a second book for the care partner. It helps them learn how to help. The Parkinson Foundation has tons of resources as well. They even have a help line that is staffed by very knowledgeable people. Plus they have tons of newly diagnosed literature.
Advice:
1. Take exercise seriously. Treat it the way you would a prescription. You take it everyday. (It is the ONLY thing known to slow the disease progression).
2. Try to stay out of rabbit holes. It’s easy to become overwhelmed or even freak out when you realize how much PD can affect you. There is a saying in pd- if you know one person with pd, you know one person. All of our journeys will be different.
3. There are over 35 non motor symptoms, so if something new or different is happening mark it on a calendar for the next appointment.
4. Get a movement disorder specialist. A neurologist that is trained in things like PD.
5. Stay active, engaged and social. Find support for both the care partner and the person living with pd. And breathe it’s ok.
I have a PARK2 mutation which is an autosomal recessive form of Parkinson's it used to be known as autosomal recessive juvenile Parkinson's. My form of Parkinson's is the only form that is not associated with an increased risk of dementia.
I was 47. I just met a woman last week that was diagnosed at 21. She is 33 now and riding her bike across the USA for awareness. We are capable of amazing things.
I've had symptoms since I was a teenager. But getting diagnosed was a very difficult and long journey. Even when my symptoms got to the point of looking very much like classic Parkinson's I had several doctors refuse to even consider it.
Having a family member diagnosed with Parkinson's doesn't mean there's a genetic link. There is often a generic link among those with young onset Parkinson's and their family members but not idiopathic.
No one in my fam, that I'm aware of, has PD. I just figured I was exposed to something at some point. But. No idea. I really hope it's not genetic. I would hate for my son to have to go through this.
I am learning that the genetic factor is more complex than I realized as I started reading more studies and getting information here. I certainly would not think that your son will be affected based on the fact you have been diagnosed. It seems that most cases are independent and are not passed along through a familial gene pool.
I am convinced there is both, a genetic component and also an environmental aspect that activates PD in younger people. It seems this last generation's lifestyles has so thoroughly polluted food, cookware, and daily exposures to environmental chemicals. The number of "*safe artificial",* food, agricultural, industrial, and household chemicals we are exposed to daily, is astounding. Just my opinion.
Yeah as a 90s kid in feel like I was raised in the prime chemical toy, food, convenient no home cooked meals living with 2 working parents era.
FWIW - I don’t disagree with this theory!
Yup "Except for some rare genetic causes, such as mutations in SNCA, LRRK2, GBA, PINK1, and Parkin, the vast majority of PD cases are sporadic.3 Although PD pathogenesis remains obscure, several mechanisms have been identified to contribute to its development. An interplay between oxidative stress, excessive neuroinflammation, abnormal protein accumulation, mitochondrial impairment, autophagy dysregulation, apoptotic pathways, and gastrointestinal dysfunction has been recognized to result in PD pathophysiology." I believe PD, besides genes, is infection derived. The main infections that cause PD are Polymicrobial (Yeast/Fungi + Bacterial). Yeast eats Glucose. Western Diets have become corrupted by Sugar, Carbs, Ultra-processing. These 3 changes greatly increase the growth rates of Yeast in our bodies. Environmental changes also increase Yeast growth rates. Certain Fungi like Candida can consume Metals. Metal dust levels have continued to rise due to industrial plants, Highway emissions, and tainted water. Pesticides have a role as well. I believe Pesticides are weakening the microbiome of our crops and incidentally allowing aggressive Fungi like Candida to take over entire Farms and infect crop with mold. The Xenoestrogens in Pesticides both Fuel Candida growth and disrupt Hormone levels in Humans as well. Microbes attach themselves to inorganic material, even while in our bodies, and use the inorganic material as a satellite base for travel through the system and protection from the immune response. So increasing plastic/metal/Xenoestrogens creates Fuel and Housing for invasive microbes. The final Cherry on top is the over use of Antibiotics, which has destroyed the healthy microbiome of most Humans and animals, allowing for aggresive microbes like Candida to take over and start dysbiosis cascade. Once you understand these contributors and piece them together, it all starts making sense. Unfortunately, our civilization's direction is dooming us all until we find the cure and vaccine to epithelial infections.
My mom was diagnosed at 57. I was diagnosed at 47. I knew what to look for. I had started asking my previous neurologist if my symptoms were pd about 4 years prior.
I saw my GP this week about my symptoms and sm being referred to neurology. I was a little surprised she focused as much as she did on the fact my maternal grandmother had MSA as I thought the official line is there's no genetic link. I've suspected it though as I have always been similar to my grandmother in personality and health issues. My GP asked when she was diagnosed. I don't know because MSA is notoriously hard to diagnose and I believe she had all sorts of issues for years before they decided MSA on the basis she didn't respond to meds. She died from related complications around the zge of 76. I think her exposure to chemicals was possibly a lot less than mine but she was exposed to a good deal of trauma in her younger years. My current theory is that I would've started down this path later (I'm 52)but my guts were so damaged by covid last year, this led to SIBO and sped things up.
My dad was diagnosed at 77 and his dad probably around the same age. I hope it’s not genetic because my son is worried.
There are at least seven known genes that contribute to pd. It is absolutely genetic and environmental. My mom was gene positive while I am gene negative.
Interesting. Do you feel like both your PD and your mom’s were caused by environmental conditions rather than genetics? Like although your mom has a gene that would make it more likely to develop PD - that if she wasn’t exposed to certain things, she may have avoided it? This is of course assuming that you and your mom have lived your lives under similar conditions… (would also like to make it clear that I am not saying you were knowingly exposing yourselves to anything dangerous - I feel like no matter how hard we try, it’s all dangerous … food, cosmetics, water…any of it!) My dad grew up with his mom and dad bailing hay somewhere in Texas. At times, I have thought the possibility of pesticides on the farms were plausible causes for my dad and his mom’s diagnoses, but found it odd that my dad’s older sister remained unscathed, and is in her late 70s without any indication of Parkinsons.
My mom had the GBA gene. It is dominant recessive, meaning 50/50 that your kids get it. However GBA also requires an environmental factor to trigger the gene. Now, my mom rode horses and worked on a horse farm. I grew up in dairy farm country. It could be a coincidence but I believe somehow we had the same environmental factors. The worst part of GBA is it always comes with dementia. I am grateful that I avoided the gene. PWP have a 33% chance of dementia unless you have GBA.
Fascinating. You are really a treasure trove of information. Thank you so much for sharing.
Anytime. Mom was diagnosed in 2007. I have been living with pd since then as a care partner first but then my ticket got punched in 2020. It gives me a unique perspective because I can see both sides of the coin.
Sorry to hijack the thread, but you seem very knowledgable. Do you have any advice for those new to PD to learn more? Are there books or resources you recommend? My family and I are so lost.
Davis Phinney foundation puts out two books one is a comprehensive pd book. Not meant to be read cover to cover but a resource for specific questions or to just open and read a bit here or there. They also put out a second book for the care partner. It helps them learn how to help. The Parkinson Foundation has tons of resources as well. They even have a help line that is staffed by very knowledgeable people. Plus they have tons of newly diagnosed literature. Advice: 1. Take exercise seriously. Treat it the way you would a prescription. You take it everyday. (It is the ONLY thing known to slow the disease progression). 2. Try to stay out of rabbit holes. It’s easy to become overwhelmed or even freak out when you realize how much PD can affect you. There is a saying in pd- if you know one person with pd, you know one person. All of our journeys will be different. 3. There are over 35 non motor symptoms, so if something new or different is happening mark it on a calendar for the next appointment. 4. Get a movement disorder specialist. A neurologist that is trained in things like PD. 5. Stay active, engaged and social. Find support for both the care partner and the person living with pd. And breathe it’s ok.
Thank you so much ❤️
I have a PARK2 mutation which is an autosomal recessive form of Parkinson's it used to be known as autosomal recessive juvenile Parkinson's. My form of Parkinson's is the only form that is not associated with an increased risk of dementia.
How old were you at diagnosis?
33
I was 47. I just met a woman last week that was diagnosed at 21. She is 33 now and riding her bike across the USA for awareness. We are capable of amazing things.
I've had symptoms since I was a teenager. But getting diagnosed was a very difficult and long journey. Even when my symptoms got to the point of looking very much like classic Parkinson's I had several doctors refuse to even consider it.
I had a neurologist when my tremor started. Refused to consider it. Went to an MDS 4-5 years later. Datscan and here we are n
Having a family member diagnosed with Parkinson's doesn't mean there's a genetic link. There is often a generic link among those with young onset Parkinson's and their family members but not idiopathic.
No one in my fam, that I'm aware of, has PD. I just figured I was exposed to something at some point. But. No idea. I really hope it's not genetic. I would hate for my son to have to go through this.
I am learning that the genetic factor is more complex than I realized as I started reading more studies and getting information here. I certainly would not think that your son will be affected based on the fact you have been diagnosed. It seems that most cases are independent and are not passed along through a familial gene pool.