THE ETIOLOGY OF IDIOPATHIC PARKINSONS-DIS EASE - AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC PERSPECTIVE WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR PREVENTIVE MEASURES

This review summarizes recent epidemiological research about the etiol ogy of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). Descriptive and analytical epidemiologic studies. supported by basic neurosciences research, sug gest a role for neurotoxins in the pathogenesis of PD, but also for me diating environment influences, which include occupational exposures, urban or rural living and nutritional factors. Such epidemiologic evid ence can provide a basis for the potential development of preventive m easures for this disease.