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I can't add much to this, except to note that interest in an environmental villain seems to be fading in favor of a genetic one. Recent research has found genes linked to Alzheimer's Disease and Lou Gehrig Disease (amyotropic lateral sclerosis), and both seem to be germane to PD in that they affect production of enzymes (eg, SOD) which scavenge the bad free radicals. For what it's worth, the latest edition of Duvoisin's book says: "...The relative constancy of the prevalence of the disease over the past century argues against an industrial pollutant, herbicide or insecticide as a causative agent." My comment is, with limited diagnostic tools, how are we sure that the prevalence of PD has been "constant"? And what about all the drugs that are already known to cause parkinsonism, if not the real thing? Cheers, Joe J. R. Bruman (818) 789-3694 3527 Cody Road Sherman Oaks CA 91403 On Tue, 30 Jan 1996, Delana Vaughan wrote: > In a message dated 96-01-28 16:08:48 EST, you write: > > >My older brother retired at 70 and had PD coming on just prior to > >retirement. He has been in a wheelchair most of this time pretty much > >frozen up between PD & Arthritis. And in a great deal of pain most of the > >time. My younger brother is not so bad, > > Did your brothers both show signs of PD at about the same time (by that I > mean in about the same year?) or did they both show signs at about the same > age? I would expect (and this is just speculation) that (1) if they had > exposure to an environmental agent that contributed significantly to bringing > on the disease (e.g. DDT) and (2) they had relatively equal genetic > liability/susceptibility to the disease, they perhaps would have onset at > about the same time (same year). Of course you can also argue that the > genetic component might "put off" the onset in each case until they were > roughly the same age. [Perhaps our science update provider, Mr. Bruman, has a > reference or 2 on this]. > > Delana Vaughan >