Less of the ageing Rick. I have never had anyone guess me as being older than 35. Ron is old enough to be my Father.

I'm not a science fiction fan, so I don't know Marc Remillard. However, the persona somebody projects on the Internet is probably very different from how they actually are. The Internet is very deceptive in that respect. In the real world I am easy going and usually play the fool. It's only when it comes to medicine that I get serious, critical and contentious, because that's what medicine deserves. I have made the most ridiculous false assumptions myself about people on BT - wrongly guessing people's age, gender, nationality, personality. One person I had always assumed to be an old man, turned out to be a nice looking young woman - a real stereotype destroyer as far as PD is concerned.

I gave what Ron had written a serious appraisal. I thought that was what he wanted - unless maybe it was fom me ! I did it because I found the subject interesting. If it does suggest or even prove anything, then it may be that the function of the blood brain barrier tends to decline with age, and that this makes somebody more prone to the effects of toxicity. This would have implications for most medical disorders. There are about a dozen known toxic causes of PD. There are probably already studies in the scientific literature that deal with the relationship of some of these toxins to blood brain barrier function.

Like a mask, the faceless form online reveals as much as it hides. May you find peace, Marc Remillard. :-)

I like bold.

I have ALWAYS been a strong believer in the relationship between PD and environment toxin...which, in the modern world, are in every breath we take, every bit of food we take, etc.

Ron, this information speaks directly to the fact that PD is different in each and every PWP. To the fact that we all progress differently and our brains are effected differently. This includes our sypmtoms and our cognitive issues.

This bolded quote is interesting also, and suggests that as our world become more toxic...goodness, think of the future.

"Scientists continue to study environmental toxins such as pesticides and herbicides that can cause PD symptoms in animals. They have found that exposing rodents to the pesticide rotenone and several other agricultural chemicals can cause cellular and behavioral changes that mimic those seen in PD. Other studies have suggested that prenatal exposure to certain toxins can increase susceptibility to PD in adulthood. An NIH-sponsored program called the Collaborative Centers for Parkinson's Disease Environmental Research (CCPDER) focuses on how occupational exposure to toxins and use of caffeine and other substances may affect the risk of PD."
Source: http://tinyurl.com/jfexb

There is other research regarding the BBB:
"The other project will use PET imaging to compare the blood brain barrier of people with Parkinson's disease to those who do not have the disease. It is hypothesized that biochemical changes that occur in the blood brain barrier of people with Parkinson's could allow greater accumulation of environmental toxins in the brain. If researchers are able to quantify these changes they may be able to identify people with the disease early and to track disease progression, as well as enable the targeted development of therapies that may restore normal blood brain barrier function."
Source: http://www.michaeljfox.org/research/grants.php?id=22

The toxic causes of Parkinson's Disease :

Until you show your credentials I ignore all that you write or attempt to sell.

Am I bothered ?

lol.........nope

First, the link that *******/Godfather/Bridgeman, or whatever the nom du jour, is actually pretty good as a general overview. With so many chemicals around and so many possible interactions, any list is going to be limited.

But i would like to complicate things a little. Inflammation can open the "tight junctions" of the epithelium (the "lining" of the blood vessels) at both the brain and the GI system. As a result toxins that were supposed to leave the body can be absorbed into the blood and sent to the brain. Even more maddening, when the load gets too heavy on the liver (detox central) a bypass system (the portal shunt) kicks in and the contaminated blood recirculates adding even more toxic burden.

Which brings up the subject of constipation. We all know that it is a feature of PD. What I would like to know is which came first? For myself, I've been "a little slow" all my life. Anyone else care to share intimate details?

If a slow GI system comes before PD, that is a major bit of information, especially for our children.

DITTO and I just read recently but forget who said it that he thought [it was in a medical article ] constipation and depression are the first signs of PD.

paula