 |
 |
Dear listmembers, At birth the substantia nigra is not pigmented and therefore not dark; pigmentation starts and the substantia nigra becomes well identified at the age of two year after which the substantia nigra continues to be pigmented. In PD these substantai nigra cells, which as you all know contains dopamine, degenerate and therefore depigmentation takes place, which off course is pathologic and almost pathognomonic for Parkinson's disease. So the big challenge is to find ways to protect these very valuable cells, before the disease starts. Chris van der Linden, M.D. St. Lucas Hospital Ghent Ghent, BELGIUM