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Hans van der Genugten wrote: > > Wed, 22 Jul 1998 17:36:34 -0400 Hilary Blue <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > <<<< I think I told you that my daughter may grow up to be in a similar > situation, as she already has a juvenile form of manic depression and if she > is carrying a gene for PD.....! >>>> > > Hello Hilary, > > Until now there are only a few families found where the genes were > responsible for the symptoms of Parkinsonism cq PD. These were very rare > cases and studies with larger and general groups of PWP have so far given no > evidence at all that these genes found are responsible for the PD or > Parkinsonism in the general population. > > Secondly: some MEDS against MD (manic depression) can cause or worsen the > PD-SYMPTOMS, not the PD itself! The situation is REVERSIBLE. After stopping > or changing the MD meds, the PD-symptoms disappear again. IF! and I say IF > by cruel coincidence your daughter would develop PD in the future, the PD > also does NOT worsen the MD, but some PD meds could worsen the MD-SYMPTOMS. > So (IF it would happen) there would be limitations in the choice of meds for > both diseases. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hans: Actually I do know a bit more about the subject than may have been apparent. I did not want to bore people by going into too much detail. My first degree (although ancient and somewhat out of date by now ) was in Zoology - specialising in genetics and embryology - so at least its not a complete foreign language to me. A couple of months go, the lecture at our support group meeting was on the effects of other medications on PD and on the treatment of PD. One of the points made was that a whole grooup of drugs used in treating manic depression, (including, among others mellaril which may late husband took, and respardil, which my daughter had just been prescribed) could cause the earlier onset of parkinsonian symptoms in those peoople who had a predisposition 9genetic or otherwise) to it. Of course, I sprang to immediate attention. I made an appointment at NIH, where I saw Dr Nussbaum. He found the first gene for PD in that famous family that originated in the Mediterranean area - I forget their name. He and his team thorooughly checked me and my family background , and, you may be relieved to hear, have come to the conclusion that my PD is not of the inheritable type - at least not as far as they can tell at the present time, and that my daughter probably has no greater chance of getting PD than anyone else in the general population. However, we should keep an extra careful watch on her reaction to the meds - and they have kept a sample of my DNA on file. Thanks for your interest and your concern. Hilary Blue