Source: Scientific American
Date: August 14, 2007
Summary:
Scientific American reports researchers have gained new insights into possible causes of Parkinson's Disease:
Neuroscientists have long believed that the tremors, stiffness and sluggish gait characteristic of Parkinson's disease resulted from the death of neurons in a section of the midbrain that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine, which helps to maintain proper motion control. A new study in mice, however, suggests that the disorder may actually be caused not only by hobbled dopamine-producing cells but also by neurons in the locus coeruleus region of the brain stem that produce norepinephrine, a chemical related to dopamine and associated with everything from anxiety to attention to blood pressure regulation. The new finding could lead to new therapies for combating the debilitating condition.
