I had to respond after reading Marilyn's comments on environment and messing
with the genetic structure and enzymes etc............

I am a PWP and I hope for a cause to be found.....but the environment as a
cause may not be the simple solution that you are hoping for.....and the
enzymes, genetics etc could all be involved............let me tell you a true
example of muscular dystrophy research.

We have had our eyes opened very widely in the past few months.....Our
grandson is now 15 months old....has shown some skeletal muscle weakness
since birth (his fine motor skills, verbal skills, and learning skills are
excellent) and in January  he was diagnosed with a muscular dystrophy (MD so
we have learned is a broad umbrella covering about 50 diseases..all causing
similar muscle problems)  More testing about the time of his first birthday
disclosed a grossly enlarged liver.  We thought it was a new problem, and
quickly learned it was all part of the same.  Griffin has Glycogen Storage
Disease IV (there are 11 GSD's).  GSD is caused by two recessive genes.
There are 40 known cases of GSD IV in the world.  No one with the infant form
has lived beyond the age of four.  The only treatment is a liver transplant.
Eight transplants have been done.  Three of those people are still living.
We hope that Griffin will receive a partial liver from one of our sons in a
few weeks....Griffin has a 30% chance of surviving that surgery.  Some of the
others who develop GSD IV have only the adult form...and develop muscular
dystrophy in their teens or thirties......why...........because the strand of
DNA is made of pairs of......G.C.A. or T.........to form enzymes GCA ACT TCT
GAG and on and on (the letters are right, the combinations vary).........if
you have a flaw on that gene you may have GGC AAC TTC TGA and on and on which
means that you "miss having the enzyme all together....... or you may express
the flaw on the gene later. GCA ACT CTG AGC  and so you have a partial enzyme.

This may also be the case in Parkinsons.........we don't know yet.......

Although genes are identified and help is found for most forms of GSD
IV....all of the patients have some form of Muscular Dystrophy still.  The
treatment for many of the forms is diet change (one form must eat cornstarch
several times a day) ....others must avoid all sucrose..........some all
fructose..........it depends on the gene flaw...
This is diagnosed with liver and muscle biopsy (after blood work shows other
indicators).

What I have wandered through this muddle and tried to say is........just
because there may be an enviromental factor.......it may not be lead, or
herbicides...it could be our food.

Griffin lacks the Brancher enzyme which allows him to break down glycogen
(the basic building block that we use for energy) and convert it to glucose.
Destruction of his liver began before birth........because his mother
ate!!!!!!!!!   He will always have a form of muscular dystrophy......the
damage done to his heart and muscles will not be undone, it just won't
progress.

Before the finger pointers say......this may be linked to my early onset
Parkinsons
....IT IS NOT.  We have some adopted children in our family.  The uncle who
will give the partial liver is also not genetically related to Griffin.

Rita Weeks