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 …read more