This is an exciting finding. It might help to explain why there is such a high incidence of PD in the Amish community. Try as researcher's may, they've been unable to find a hereditary link to date.

Like many, I've been exposed to pesticides on the farm and chemicals in the laboratory. My mother was a heavy smoker during her pregnancy. I've wondered if my father's exposure to the Bikini Atoll atom bomb tests affected the development of my central nervous system.

My personal opinion is that PD is the combined damage caused by many small factors.

It's nice to see that science is finally starting to get a handle on what some of those factors really are.

Steve