According to
Sue, Sue, & Sue (2010), Parkinson’s may be
caused by lesions in the motor area of the brainstem. This is due to the loss
of dopamine – producing brain cells. According to Knierim (2012), the damage to
the motor pathway of a Parkinson’s patient is caused by the death of
dopaminergic neuron in the substania nigra pars compacta. The substania nigra
is part of the basal ganglia and lies in the midbrain. The activity in this
part of the brain excites the direct pathway and inhibits the indirect pathway.
The loss of the nigrostriatal pathway, a dopamine pathway that connects the
substania nigra and the striatum, alters the excitation and inhibition in the
basal ganglia. This reduces the excitation of the motor cortex. The reduction
of the thalamic excitation interferes with the motor cortex’s ability to
generate the commands for movement. While the cause of the death of these
neurotransmitters is still completely unknown, researchers have some theories
as to the cause (Sue, Sue, & Sue,
2010) .
These theories include infections of the brain, toxins, cerebrovascular
disorders, brain trauma, carbon monoxide poisoning, and possibly genetics.
However, there are still some Parkinson’s cases that are unkown as to the cause
of the disorder.
Knierim, J. (2012). Chapter 6: Disorders of the
Motor System. (The University of Texas) Retrieved August 23, 2012, from
Neuroscience Online: http://neuroscience.uth.tmc.edu/s3/chapter06.html
Sue, D., Sue, D. W.,
& Sue, S. (2010). Understanding Abnormal Behavior (9th ed.). Boston,
MA: Wadsworth.
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