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Dear Gary Z, It should be a relief that your father was finally diagnosed after years of frustrating symptoms. Perhaps even a blessing, because now at least he has a range of treatment options. No one can predict what course Parkinson's will take. This fact sometimes causes more stress than anything else. Everyone is different. Better to deal with the present and plan for the future than worry too much about either. My wife's uncle has PD after working in his own chemical lawn service business for many years. He was not particularly careful with pesticiedes despite an engineering background. My father and grandfather had PD. They lived and worked on a dairy farm for many years. Environmental factors have been linked to PD but no definitive causation has been proven (besides MPTP). Quite a few substances, including metals like aluminum, lead, mercury and iron have been investigated, but results are inconclusive. Pesticides and solvents may be involved. Some researchers have found that a higher than normal incidence of familial PD occurs in 15-20% of cases. Researchers are investigating possible gene site abnormalities that may be linked to a higher incidence of PD. As children of a parent with PD we have a responsibility to help them. We also have a responsibility to make others aware of PD so that we can further research. A national, or even local, registry of persons with PD can help us quantify environmental and hereditary factors so that we can base research on something more substantial than anecdotal evidence. Best of luck to your father and your family on dealing with a difficult situation. This board is a step in the right direction. Regards, Ken Aidekman