Causes of Parkinson’s disease: Literature Review

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common movement disorders in the world. Parkinson’s affects approximately 1% of all adults over the age of 60. This disorder is the result of the degeneration of dopamineproducing cells in the substantia nigra in the midbrain. Dopaminergic medications are currently being used as a treatment to improve many of the symptoms that characterize Parkinson’s disease. The cause of the disease is not yet known. However, there has been an abundance of research trying to identify potential origins. This literature review will highlight some of the main positions that researchers have on the causes of Parkinson’s disease. Among these causes are environmental toxins, genetic factors, and oxidative stress.