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Hi this is Audrey, a non pwp but a good friend of one in Australia. I would like to express to all of you how amazing you are. ( this is a most overused word, but for lack of a better adjective I use it) How many well people bemoan a headache. I dont mean to gush I am in awe. I learn what courage is every day from you all and especially the guy I have in Oz. ----- Original Message ----- From: Phil E.Gesotti <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2000 3:08 PM Subject: Re: symptoms of PD and Alzheimers > There are a number of factors which contribute to the variability of PD > symptoms and progression of the disease.. > > One is that neurologist don't have a diagnostic test for PD. They are > forced into a process of elimination of other ailments which could be > causing the symptoms. > > The second is that PD is normally associated with the death of > dopaminergic cells in the Substantia Nigra. However, I once saw a > statistic that as high as 25% of the people who exhibit PD symptoms > don't have degeneration in the Substantia Nigra. If you look at the > interconnection of the Substantia Nigra with parts of the Basil Ganglia > you can speculate that a failure of the dopamine receptors in these > areas could cause similar symptoms. > > Third, the Substantia Nigra has axons that terminate in the Pallidus, > Thalamus and STN of the Basil Ganglia. Each of these areas has a > different effect on motor control. This is the reason a Pallidotomy is > done for dystonia and a Thalladotomy is done for tremor. > > Fourth, PD symptoms do not appear until approximately 60%-70% of > Substantia Nigra cell loss has been realized. Since we can't tell when > the cell loss began, it is difficult to predict at what rate the disease > is progressing. > > Fifth, the origin of this cell loss is unknown. In some people, it may > be genetic. In some it may be environmental. In some it may be genetic > sensitivity to the environment. Since we don't know the origin, it is > possible that a common degeneration mechanism is at work that attacks > the weakest area in the brain. In our PD brain, the weak link may be the > Substantia Nigra. > > Sixth, the risks for developing dementia are 10% for young onset and 30% > for diagnosis at 70, per statistics presented at a symposium I attended > last year. Is this caused by the same mechanism as Alzheimers? Only time > will tell. > > These are some cold hard facts and some speculation, but we should use > this data to plan for the future. We can get depressed and spend every > day wringing our hands or we can get out there and live each day to it's > fullest. > > I came to the same conclusion that Micheal J. Fox did. I can use my > intellect and abilities now to do my part in finding a cure or > treatments to improve my quality of life in the future. MJ, myself and a > large portion of this list are in a very productive phase of our lives. > We don't know how quickly things will deteriorate, but we know they > won't get better. The time is now to make it happen! > > Phil Gesotti 50/46+ >