4 siblings out of 8 has PD....

[Airlog414]

That makes you wonder what happened in our genetics. Or if it is environmental???But whatever it is we are puzzled, saddened and frustrated. Just a few things to describe how our family feels. This disease has become all too common in our family. Our only hope is it stops right here, right now! We will continue to fight this disease together....and we will keep praying for that cure.

[Juliegrace]

Were you exposed to chemicals growing up? What is your ethnic background? There are definitely some indicators that could account for such an occurrence. It could be both a hereditary and environmental cause.

[Airlog414 in reply to Juliegrace]

The only thing I could think of is my mom used mosquito

spray in our bedrooms a lot. We grew up in the Philippines.

[SilentEchoes in reply to Airlog414]

Insecticides are almost without exception, neurotoxic organophosphate compounds. I believe this was the cause of my Mom's PD and my ALS (they are related). I would get genetic testing. Many people are poor metabolizers of OPPs. Detox, reduce inflammation and increase antioxidants. Genetics are our tendancy - not our destiny. Still, this raises the alarm for your progeny, who now face a 50/50 chance of developing a neurodegenerative disorder. I reccomend you find a good functional medicine doctor.

[Grumpy77 in reply to SilentEchoes]

The only thing that could convince me insecticides is to blame is if data shows that the Philippines and other countries with high purchases and use of that insecticide have higher than average cases of PD, not just data for one family

[SilentEchoes in reply to Grumpy77]

Most researchers study temporal relationships such as occupation or clustering of disease. The exposure you talk about was in childhood and you hypothesized that it could be a factor in your development of PD, the lack of a temporal relationship does not make it benign. Repeated subacute exposures over time to neurotoxic chemicals depletes biological reserves, this is why these neurological illnesses tend to appear late in life. When they occur in the prime of life it points to acute exposure to neurotoxins and the existence of a temporal relationship.

Insecticides effect anything with a nervous system, ie neonicotinoids; which don't just kill bees, they are linked to brain damage in children.

Believe what you want, but may God help you if you live in the midwestern states of the US, where the highest rates of neurodegenerative diseases occur and is clustered around commercial agriculture.

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

nih.gov/news-events/news-re...

scholar.google.com/scholar?...

[aspergerian]

Has your family done the 23 and Me PD genetics evaluation with MJFox Foundation?

[park_bear in reply to aspergerian]

I second this recommendation. 23 and me will check your genome for mutations known to cause Parkinson's. This will help you to understand what is going on.

[bepo in reply to park_bear]

Yes. We had our 23 and me tests done years ago. Funny. I have one copy of a gene for PD, and my husband does not, and he has PD. He is toxic from agent orange. Your genes tell only part of the story. If you have two copies, you are more likely to get PD, but again, it's exposure to toxins.

[Airlog414 in reply to aspergerian]

I have but the other won’t do it. Accdg to 23 and me I don’t have the LRRK2 gene.

[bepo in reply to aspergerian]

I am skeptical of MJF foundation. Do they promote more natural therapies like Vitamin B1? Why not. Is there a pharmaceutical company hiding in the closet promoting their products?

[Despe in reply to bepo]

Amen to that, Bepo!

[pvw2]

Did the 4 siblings with PD share the same environmental conditions but different environmwnt that the 4 without PD?

[Airlog414 in reply to pvw2]

We all grew up in the same environment.

[pvw2 in reply to Airlog414]

How about after growing up? For example, I was away from home almost 40 years before being diagnosed with PD.

[Ungara15]

Absolutely, hope for your Family the cure to cracking the puzzle,, with all the research going on we can't be far from unlocking the various mechanisms in neurology

[pandaeyes1]

There are definitely familial forms of Parkinsonism. They won’t likely show up on the 23 and me test since they’re very specific genes. I’d recommend seeing a neurologist to send off the specific genetic panel.

[aspergerian in reply to pandaeyes1]

pandaeyes1 wrote:

"There are definitely familial forms of Parkinsonism. They won’t likely show up on the 23 and me test since they’re very specific genes."

Have you documentation for your statement regarding 23 and Me?

[Juliegrace in reply to pandaeyes1]

LRRK2 showed up on my 23 and me report. I am not sure how many of the specific PD genes 23 and me is currently testing for, but since they have specifically geared toward building the largest genetic database for PD - that is why they've offered free testing for the past 10 years- I think they test for several of the most common familial genes. The founder of 23 and me used to be married to Sergey Brin, one of the Google founders whose mother has PD.

[Pjjrussell in reply to Juliegrace]

How do you apply for the free testing? I’ve been wanting to get this done for my husband who has also been diagnosed.

[Juliegrace in reply to Pjjrussell]

Go to their website, 23andme.com.

[Rosenmu in reply to Juliegrace]

Thanks for mentioning, I just signed up. Fox insight is where you first have to sign up for the research part and questioniare.

[aspergerian]

Pmc: Virtual research visits and direct-to-consumer genetic testing in Parkinson’s disease. 2015.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Rosenmu]

One of the local colleges in my area did a study and connected high pesticide use on local farming to higher rates of PD in our area. The well water I drank for many years was downhill from the farms.

[PDFighter13]

The Parkinson's foundation is now offering free genetic testing for those with PD. I heard they are checking for 16 variants (23 and me only checks 2 as of right now). The testing and genetic counseling is free but it is only offered certain places around the country. Here is a link parkinson.org/about-us/Pres...

[TR8Man]

I’m sorry for your family. Hope the others are spared. I’m the oldest of nine, plus we have another 15 cousins. No PD In our family. So, is PD genetic, environmental, or perhaps it’s “ caught “....Go figure.

[amykp]

What's more, if you DO have a genetic form of PD (I do!) you will be lucky. You can join a research study using specially targeted drugs. Some sound very promising. Find out!