OK Folks, I am way over my head here, but I saw this research article on PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) this morning...

[URL="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101206135425.htm"]

PTSD always piqued my interest in that there is a normal response to a horrific experience that just doesn't stop. I have always felt that the symptoms of PD resemble someone with an exaggerated startle response.
(freezing, tremor)

"Northwestern researchers discovered the brain becomes overly stimulated after a traumatic event causes an ongoing, frenzied interaction between two brain proteins long after they should have disengaged."

I believe that the researchers are explaining this by saying that Glutamate receptors continue to be stimulated in the brain even after the glutamate dissipates.

[URL="http://www.mitochondrial.net/showabstract.php?pmid=11376653"]

"The excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate plays a major role in determining certain neurological disorders. This situation, referred to as 'glutamate neurotoxicity' (GNT), is characterized by an increasing damage of cell components, including mitochondria, leading to cell death. In the death process, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated. The present study describes the state of art in the field of GNT with a special emphasis on the oxidative stress and mitochondria. In particular, we report how ROS are generated and how they affect mitochondrial function in GNT. "

I'm not a scientist and these articles are pretty intimidating to me so I tend to use instincts with them rather than being completely rational. But my instincts say that there could be a connection here, no?

What do we know about Glutamate and it's receptors or 'glutamate neurotoxicity' in relation to PD?


Is there already research out there about this connection?