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To those who missed it, here is a copy of Ken Aidekman's thoughts on Parkinson's and heredity. >Dear Dan, >The reason that you have heard conflicting reports about the >hereditary connection in Parkinson's is that there is no conclusive >evidence either way. It is a complex subject. Dr. Roger DuVoisin >from Rutgers has studied families with a high incidence of PD and >believes that it is herditary and caused by a dominant gene. >However, some believe that he includes too many Parkinson's-like >diseases in his definition. DuVoisin believes that Parkinson's is >part of a larger body of diseases which are characterized by the >discovery of Lewy Bodies in the brain. Other researchers have >found that only 20% of persons with PD are from families with a >high incidence. One study suggests that if you have a family >member with PD you are 4 times more likely to get it. Parkinson's >also generally occurs late in life so that even if you have the genes >that cause it, you may not get it before you die from something >else. No specific gene has neen found to associated with PD, yet. >Many scientists are testing possible candidates, but although >some gene locations have been found not to be related to PD, none >has been positively correlated with higher incidence of PD. Some >researchers believe that PD may be caused by the interaction of >multiple genes. Some believe PD is caused by a combination of >genetic and environmental factors. For instance a gene that >hampers the liver's ability to filter out certain metals form the blood. >These metals ( aluminum, zinc, etc.) may accumulate in the brain >and set in motion the process that causes PD. >Obviously much research needs to be done, however it is apparent >that some families have a much higher incidence of PD than others >in spite of separations in geographical location. Much more >research needs to be done in this area. My father had PD and his >father did as well, but no one else has developed it in my family. I >do know of a number of persons whose families have >multi-generational PD. Dan Fagin(IU No [log in to unmask])