Genetic predisposition plays a role in nigral cell death in Parkinson's disease

Both genetic and environmental factors are involved in the etiology of Park inson's disease (PD). The recent identification of specific autosomal genes that lead to variants of PD confirms that genetic factors are important. I dentifying and confirming other genetic factors responsible for PD is a dif ficult task because PD is a complex disease, the results of multiple geneti c and environmental factors leading to a final common pathology. This revie w will discuss how advances in human genetics will allow future unraveling of the complex interactions between genetics and environment in the etiolog y of PD. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.