 |
 |
Thanks to all who have so far responded to my post regarding PD risk factors. From the responses combined with my own observations, alcohol, marijuana, and cigarettes can be ruled out as risk factors. That means that we need to search harder and I'd like to hear from more of you if possible; if shyness has held you back, you can post anonymously to this list or to me personally (mail [log in to unmask] for more info). Wendy alluded to this, but after I posted my request for help in finding the culprit to what has given some of us PD, I found that the chemical MPTP which was in at least one batch of synthetic heroin is broken down by MOA-B into the potent oxidant MPP+, which has an affinity toward the dopamine receptors and has definitely caused PD in some people. So question (c) was not so crazy after all. Furthermore, deprenyl is an MAO-B inhibitor that extends the lifespan of rats and apparently slows the progression of PD. More questions for those of you who were young when you first had PD symptoms in addition to those in my original post: Did you grow up on a farm? Were you in direct contact with gasoline or paints in the time frame when you developed PD? Additional comments on responses: > environmental. Since no-one in my family going back five generations on > both sides was known to have PD (granted even 50 years ago diagnosis was > unpredictable), i believe my cause rests in environmental toxins. I > include the artificial techno-noise (directly related to stress inducement) > of the modern world as a possible cause. Well, you must have experienced something that was different from others. If we try hard enough we can probably find it! Lets be optimistic. Key is what you were doing at the age of ~21. > 1) Q: Who on this list is currently under 40? I am 28. Tremors started at age of 17 to the best of my knowledge. Cheers, Jason Taylor __________________________________________________________________________ Jason Taylor | "Doctor, don't cut so deep! Greenbelt, MD| That's the third operating table you've ruined this week!"