Introduction

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by the onset of significantly declining dopamine levels and the death of dopaminergic neurons. This disease usually affects older adults, but may begin as early as the late 20's, with symptoms of motor behavior impairment such as tremors, muscle rigidity, abnormal gait, and slow movement. Currently the cause of PD is unknown, whether it be environmental, infectious, or genetic in origin, but two compounds known to induce a Parkinson's-like condition, MPTP and Paraquat, are being used to induce Parkinson's Disease in animal models for study.

Laboratories Investigating Parkinson's Disease & the Role of the Blood Brain Barrier

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