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Carpe Diem, Phil, as one member of our ListFamily, Michel, is always reminding us. Carole 53/51/?46 --- "Phil E.Gesotti" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > 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+ > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com