Estrogen-Related Genes and Parkinson’s Disease
A decrease in the activities of three genes involved in estrogen production and activity has been linked to an increased risk of Parkinson’s Disease: estrogen receptor 1 gene (ESR1); estrogen receptor 2 gene (ESR2); and PR domain-containing protein 2 gene (PRDM2).
Dr. Walter Rocca of Mayo Clinic points out that the gene variants observed cannot cause Parkinson’s on their own but act with other risk factors.
The gene variants are not a defect or a problem in and of themselves — they are part of human differences, simply differences across people, like being slim, short or blue-eyed. These differences make one subgroup of the population more susceptible to a disease like Parkinson’s. However, sometimes the genetic variant is a weak risk factor, and the disease only manifests if another risk factor is present, such as a particular diet, physical exercise, taking certain medications or a medical event.
This is usually the case with most complex diseases. It takes more than one gene and more than one risk factor to cause the disease. The trouble is, it is impossible to tell which one is the tipping point.
Medical News Today, April 9, 2006
Tags: disease, DNA, esr1, esr2, estrogen, estrogen-receptor, Genes, genetics, health, parkinsons, parkinsons-disease, prdm2Related Stories
POSTED IN: Genetics of Disease
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2 opinions for Estrogen-Related Genes and Parkinson’s Disease
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
Mar 11, 2008 at 6:37 pm
This is interesting because as a physician I observed that people blue-eyed, fair-skinned people have more often gluten sensitivity (unfortunately, this is only anecdotal. But I don’t think we’ll see a study soon about this - who would want to fund it?). And they seem also more susceptible to the negative effects of dairy consumption. Also, I wonder if Alzheimer’s is more frequent in these people?
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
Author of: Health20 - Tapping into the Healing Power of Water”, McGraw Hill 2007, and “Healthy to 100: Aging with Vigor and Grace”, HCI 2006.
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
Mar 19, 2008 at 1:36 am
Another thought: I learned in medicine that Parkinson’s is a “new” disease. It was first described around 1800 (if I remember right). Before that, it was unknown. Was never described by such astute observers as Hippocrates, galen, and so on.
Now we know that Parkinson’s has a genetic background - multi-genetic indeed. But it seems it needs an environmental trigger to bring the disease out.
I have always wondered if it is an environmental toxin (or several), or something in our food. Or something missing from our modern food. Because around 1800 was really the entry into “modern” times with industrialization, manufactured food, and so on.
- Just some disorderly musings.
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
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