Pathogenic Mechanisms

PD presents as a pathological activation and/or modulation of various biological pathways. These mechanisms may be initial triggering events for PD or may be involved in promoting progression of PD over time. Based on genetic, environmental and histopathological findings, multiple pathogenic pathways have been implicated in PD, including abnormal protein handling, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic dysregulation, neuroimmune function, stress response pathways, and cell death pathways.  Ultimately these pathways impact function and survival of specific susceptible neuronal populations, including dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta.