I went yesterday. IT was very informative. There are 13 genes that MIGHT cause PD but not by themselves the statistical evidence seems to indicate.
Researcher Jeff Bronstein MD. PHD MDS, seems to think it will eventuallly be proven that its a combination of factors that cause PD. HE pointed out that PD was first identified in 1817, long before the invention of pesticides. All that statistical evidence proves now is that you have a somewhat greater chance to contract PD with continued exposure to a given insecticide. HE pointed out that the 3% who do get symptoms, 97% do not.

Cann't recall his reasoning but he also said that those who contract PD at 50 or younger PROBABLY have a genetic predisposition for it. Sorry I cannot decipher my notes!!

CHarlie

to primarily be an attempt to validate direct, personal online input from already clinically evaluated and provisionally diagnosed Parkinsons Institude patients about the details of their specific symptoms, and to screen their genetic material for any of the thus far discovered and future discoveries of changes/mutations that seem to contribute to eventual development of the disease. In other words, the scientists already have detailed medical records of these patients whose DNA they will scan, and they want to compare those patients' own symptom descriptions provided online with their doctor's descriiptions to find out how consistent (reliable) patient-provided self info is.

The hope is that, if the online-obtained info turns out to be a statistically reliable way of obtaining detailed, accurate data, very large numbers of patients' DNA scan info can economically and rapidly be compared, or "mined" to discover additional genetic changes, especially combinations of them, that predispose people to PD. It is hoped to be a short-cut to revealing complex genetic determinants of developing PD.

As Charlie mentioned, some scientists are beginning to be convinced that external factors, such as environmental exposures, in comparison with genetic determinants, make only very minor contributions to the large majority of actual cases.