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Interview with Dr. Shill at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson's Research Center
part II
Interview with Dr. Shill at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson's Research Center
part II
RC:
So what is the slowing down process, that makes it go from a regular speed to a slower one in Parkinson’s? Is it a breakdown of the nerve endings? What is it that makes the signal goes slower?
DS:
I don’t know if I can answer that. I don’t know if there is an answer.
RC:
So when Parkinson’s occurs, we just know that the signal is going slower?
DS:
Right.
RC:
What are the causes of Parkinson’s? Do we know?
DS:
There are some things that have been linked to Parkinson’s Disease. There are a few genetic abnormalities that may lead to Parkinson’s Disease and that’s particularly true for Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease, there’s a higher risk of it being genetic or hereditary cause. There have been some links to occupational exposure potentially. People who are welders may be at higher risk. People who have been exposed to pesticides, for instance, farmers may be at risk for developing Parkinson’s Disease. Head injury has been linked to Parkinson’s Disease. It can be a remote instance, so 20 or 30 years previous -- severe or significant head injury along with loss of consciousness has been linked.
RC:
I’ve heard you wouldn’t be able to tell a patient had Parkinson’s for sure until you were able to cut open their brain during an autopsy.
DS:
Right.
RC:
If you were to cut open a Parkinson’s patient’s brain, what would be the tell-tale signs?
DS:
The definitive diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease comes from looking at the brain tissue under the microscope. Obviously, that can only happen after a person has died. It’s not something we get to know for sure until then. In fact, most people would say it’s about a 10% misdiagnosis rate even when given pretty good clinical diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. What you see under the microscope is a loss of dopamine neurons. There’s an area of the brain called the Substantia Nigra which contains these dopamine neurons. These dopamine neurons project to part of the brain called the striatum which is where all kinds of movement is initiated, basically.
RC:
Where is the Substantia Nigra?
DS:
Back part of the brain, top part of the brain stem.
RC:
Does the loss of dopamine mean the neurons can’t be transmitted, can’t get to where they need to go?
DS:
Think of dopamine as being energy for the motor system. Loss of dopamine reduces the energy, the battery, if you will, for the motor system.
So what is the slowing down process, that makes it go from a regular speed to a slower one in Parkinson’s? Is it a breakdown of the nerve endings? What is it that makes the signal goes slower?
DS:
I don’t know if I can answer that. I don’t know if there is an answer.
RC:
So when Parkinson’s occurs, we just know that the signal is going slower?
DS:
Right.
RC:
What are the causes of Parkinson’s? Do we know?
DS:
There are some things that have been linked to Parkinson’s Disease. There are a few genetic abnormalities that may lead to Parkinson’s Disease and that’s particularly true for Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease, there’s a higher risk of it being genetic or hereditary cause. There have been some links to occupational exposure potentially. People who are welders may be at higher risk. People who have been exposed to pesticides, for instance, farmers may be at risk for developing Parkinson’s Disease. Head injury has been linked to Parkinson’s Disease. It can be a remote instance, so 20 or 30 years previous -- severe or significant head injury along with loss of consciousness has been linked.
RC:
I’ve heard you wouldn’t be able to tell a patient had Parkinson’s for sure until you were able to cut open their brain during an autopsy.
DS:
Right.
RC:
If you were to cut open a Parkinson’s patient’s brain, what would be the tell-tale signs?
DS:
The definitive diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease comes from looking at the brain tissue under the microscope. Obviously, that can only happen after a person has died. It’s not something we get to know for sure until then. In fact, most people would say it’s about a 10% misdiagnosis rate even when given pretty good clinical diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. What you see under the microscope is a loss of dopamine neurons. There’s an area of the brain called the Substantia Nigra which contains these dopamine neurons. These dopamine neurons project to part of the brain called the striatum which is where all kinds of movement is initiated, basically.
RC:
Where is the Substantia Nigra?
DS:
Back part of the brain, top part of the brain stem.
RC:
Does the loss of dopamine mean the neurons can’t be transmitted, can’t get to where they need to go?
DS:
Think of dopamine as being energy for the motor system. Loss of dopamine reduces the energy, the battery, if you will, for the motor system.
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