Why "Shaking Palsy" Is Still a Mystery

At this given point in time, doctors and scientists are aware of how to reduce the severity of the symptoms that are experience with Parkinson’s disease, but still do not understand what it takes to stop the serious neurological condition altogether. Also, the actual cause of Parkinson’s disease has yet to be pinpointed, however researchers have their respective theories. Some of these include specific alterations within the patient’s genes, or a series of triggers that the patients could be exposed to with their respective environments.

The fact that much of the nuances associated with Parkinson’s disease are still misunderstood, or rather unknown, shows that there is still so much more research surrounding the disease that needs to be completed. In doing so, researchers and doctors will have a better understanding of certain correlations between a variety of traits seen in Parkinson’s disease patients. This will enable said researchers to predict potentially negative impacts on the severity of Parkinson's disease based on certain lifestyle choices.

More importantly, the medical world, as well as the Parkinson’s community, will grasp the potential approaches in preventing the disease altogether, which very well includes strategies that pick up on certain traits in a patient before the disease appears.

The studies surrounding Parkinson's disease

As is the case with many diseases today, a wide variety of studies have gone underway in order to better understand Parkinson’s disease. Whether it be the condition’s origin, symptoms, causes, or even prevention, groups of scientists and researchers have dove into the deep and complex world of Parkinson’s disease.

One study on Parkinson’s looked into a certain gene that may very well be responsible in nearly all cases of the disease.  Mihael H. Polymeropoulos and his research team identified a mutation in a specific gene that could prove to be a key insight into how Parkinson's disease is caused. The gene that the research team identified as the culprit is known as the a-Synuclein gene, and is ultimately responsible for coding certain information related to proteins within the body.  Within the abstract of the study published in the journal, Science, the team mentions that, “This finding of a specific molecular alteration associated with PD will facilitate the detailed understanding of the pathophysiology of the disorder.”

Read on to learn more about why Parkinson's disease, or rather "Shaking Palsy", still puzzles some researchers today.