Dear Laura,

The dopamine produced by the dopamine producing neurons in the substantia nigra pass through mitochondrial pathways to reach the nerves to send messages to the muscles to move or not. I am not sure how lewey bodies play a role in genetic forms of Parkinson, as the study I read of families of genetically related PD, the majority of patients did not have the lewey body disease that other Parkinsonian patients have. Alpha synuclean protein did block the pathways, causing the dopamine to back up into the substantia nigra, after which the overabundance of neuron producing dopamine cells became apoptic or suicidal.

I believe even if the understanding of what causes PD could be understood, there may not nesccesarily be a cure. We can only hope. But we should also be prepared for that possibility and accept what science offers now to improve our quality of life.