^^^^^^ WARM GREETINGS FROM ^^^^^^^^^^^^ :-) Ivan Suzman 50/39/36 [log in to unmask] :-) Portland, Maine land of lighthouses sunny,18 deg. F :-) ******************************************************************* Hi Bob, Isn't PIEN exciting right now, with so many of us onto tracking down the ANSWER to "What causes Parkinson's Disease?" It's become a thrill to see what everyone is thinking! Bob, do you feel that a damaged dopamine delivery system in a person with PD (PWP) could be the result of a "slow virus", which has invaded the PWP's DNA , causing Parkinson's eventual appearance in that PWP? About a Multiple Sclerosis-causing virus: Bob, I'm no expert. I'm neither a geneticist nor a virologist. My training in genetics is most closely related to gene code changes that cause slow and gradual evolution in species. Otherwise, I am trained as a medical anatomist, not as a physician. Hopefully we'll all know more soon about viruses, from research reports, like the dramatic Lou Gehrig's Disease announcements two weeks ago from France. I had childhood "flu" and bronchitis, and was sick in bed for 6 months at age 5 with mononucleosis. Now I am rarely sick, even for half a day. Maybe battling off these childhood ailments left me with a stronger immune system, but also with a tough future, that would include the development of PD. The PIEN list is VIBRANTLY ALIVE right now, with loads of ideas like never before. I sure hope this goes on and on, and jump-starts us all. Thanks Bob,again, for your very valued information on MS. I also appreciate your concern that we be cautious in our optimism, and I am with you on that one. Sincerely, Ivan Suzman :-) ********************************************************** "Robert A. FInk" writes, in part......... > >Best, >Bob> >"Ex Tristitia Virtus" > >*********************************************