Parkinson's disease

Lancet. 2009 Jun 13;373(9680):2055-66. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60492-X.

Abstract

Parkinson's disease is a common progressive bradykinetic disorder that can be accurately diagnosed. It is characterised by the presence of severe pars-compacta nigral-cell loss, and accumulation of aggregated alpha-synuclein in specific brain stem, spinal cord, and cortical regions. The main known risk factor is age. Susceptibility genes including alpha-synuclein, leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK-2), and glucocerebrosidase (GBA) have shown that genetic predisposition is another important causal factor. Dopamine replacement therapy considerably reduces motor handicap, and effective treatment of associated depression, pain, constipation, and nocturnal difficulties can improve quality of life. Embryonic stem cells and gene therapy are promising research therapeutic approaches.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Age Distribution
  • Age of Onset
  • Aged
  • Cause of Death
  • Dopamine Agents / therapeutic use
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / transplantation
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Glucosylceramidase / genetics
  • Humans
  • Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Parkinson Disease / diagnosis
  • Parkinson Disease / epidemiology
  • Parkinson Disease / etiology*
  • Parkinson Disease / therapy*
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Distribution
  • alpha-Synuclein / genetics

Substances

  • Dopamine Agents
  • alpha-Synuclein
  • LRRK2 protein, human
  • Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Glucosylceramidase