HEALTH
Faze Online
Parkinson's
Disease
Parkinson's
disease is a common neurodegenerative disorder, predominantly
of the elderly, manifested by rigidity, tremors and movement
difficulty. It results from defects within dopaminergic neurons
at the substantia nigra, a portion of the midbrain and brainstem.
Although the cause of the defects is unknown in most human sufferers,
it has been previously discovered that a chemical, MPTP (1-methyl-r-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine),
can cause permanent Parkinson's disease even in young people.
This link was discovered in the 1980's when IV drug addicts
took a mistakenly synthesized designer drug analog of demerol
(meperidine) and wound up with permanent severe Parkinson's
disease. It was subsequently discovered that MPTP and its breakdown
products caused permanent toxic defects in mitochondria in selective
neurons.
Rotenone, when administered IV to rats, also produced both symptoms
of Parkinson's disease, and the appearance of "Lewy bodies,"
a microscopic swelling of part of the neuron) a known
pathology sign of the disease. Rotenone, which
is a naturally occurring substance which rapidly degrades in
the environment, had been considered relatively safe as compared
to other pesticides.. It is unknown whether the toxic effects
seen in the mice exposed to rotenone can occur in humans who
eat rotenone treated vegetables.
Actor Michael J. Fox suffers from Parkinson's disease.
