Rick - I believe your two-part theory already is an underlying assumption among most researchers. Something inherent in our bodies (a wide variety of possibilities) is triggered by exposure to something in the environment (also a wide range) causing a myriad of diseases and symptoms.

olsen - Unless you've taken up arms, I think Luddite is a little harsh! It's hard to look back; I think the best we can do is move forward with more awareness.

Most of us can identify numerous possibilities as to the cause of our PD. We have all experienced significant stress and significant exposure to toxic chemicals. Once we are treated with RX drugs that effect brain chemistry in general and dopamine specifically, our brains adjust to or adapt to the artificial chemistry and we have "drug induced" disease. Sinemet rapidly becomes an irreversable therapy. Whether you call Sinemet addicting or not is a mater of semantics. Most people with PD have experienced chronic and/or refractory depression and have taken RX antidepressants before or after DX with PD. Again there is a strong "dependency/addiction" to antidepressants as brain chemistry is altered.

I'm sure I'm not alone in wondering if there was another course to follow back when I first started taking RX drugs. I doubt that I will ever know. I am convinced that RX drugs are at this time a critical point of no return. Sinemet is PD! I would like to think that detox, lifestyle and nutritional changes/therapy could lead to a cure for PD but believe that Sinemet is the ultimate "toxin" we are exposed to.

My biggest frustration is in not knowing what to do with people newly diagnosed with PD. We have so much first hand experience and unique knowledge with this disease but still don't have an answer.