A recent study has spotted genetic factors associated with Parkinson’s disease. The study was conducted by an international team of both human geneticists and doctors from Institute of Human Genetics of Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen and Technische Universitat Munchen; the Neurological Clinic of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munich and the Mitochondrial Research Group of Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Matthias Elstner from the Neurological clinic of LMU and Helmhotz Zentrum München says that environmental attributes like dietary habits has genetic relation to Parkinson’s disease. It was also found in the study that metabolism and B6 conditions do highly influence the risk of attaining diseases as well as the therapeutic response to treatment of pathologies.
The effect of neurons in the brain was evaluated in respect to activities of genes when someone suffered from Parkinson’s disease. An increase expression of pyridoxal kinase gene was found. In another related project, this particular gene was examined in more than 1,200 patients with Parkinson. The study proved that a particular gene variant augmented the potential risk of Parkinson’s disease. This gene changed the enzyme expression of pyridoxal kinase (PDXK) present in the brain.
The study used a particular genetic association analysis approach. The technique adopted used a single cell inducement of profiling of dopaminergic neurons. This innovative technique has improved the scope and abilities to comprehend genetic risk factors.
What PDXK is?
PDXK is a particular enzyme that transforms Vitamin B6 as a food substance to a physiologically active component. The component is essential to produce a fundamental neurotransmitter called dopamine. Moreover, Parkinson’s disease is caused by a reduction of different neurons that are responsible for the generation of dopamine. The decrease of dopamine (neurotransmitter) accounts for major symptoms of Parkinson. The Parkinson’s disease has symptoms such as shaking of muscles and lethargic movements (bradykinesia). This leads to several predicaments like posture instability, vegetative disorder (bladder dysfunction), depression, paresthesia (sensor disorder) as well as many other psychological difficulties.
The finding of the study shows that genetic factors are together with environmental conditions such as dietary habits a cause for the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease. Despite, that the variant is only a minor contributor to Parkinson’s disease. Yet it is a fundamental fact for improvement in individual therapies.
Source: Phys Org
Mon, Feb 8, 2010
Gerontology, Health And Aging, Lifestyle, Longevity