Looking Beyond the Diagnosis: What May Contribute to Parkinson's Disease?
In our first article, we explored how Parkinson's disease is far more than a disorder of dopamine. We now understand it as a complex condition involving multiple systems throughout the body.
One of the biggest questions people ask after receiving a diagnosis is, "Why did this happen?"
The honest answer is that we still don't know exactly why Parkinson's develops. For most people, there is unlikely to be a single cause. Instead, researchers believe it results from a combination of genetic susceptibility, ageing and environmental influences that place stress on the nervous system over many years.
Understanding these contributing factors won't change the diagnosis, but it may help guide a more personalised approach to supporting long-term health.
Genetics Are Only Part of the Story
While certain genetic mutations are linked to Parkinson's disease, they account for only a small percentage of cases.
Most people diagnosed with Parkinson's have no strong family history, suggesting that genes alone rarely tell the whole story. Instead, genetics may influence a person's susceptibility, while other factors determine whether the disease develops.
Environmental Exposures
Researchers continue to investigate how long-term exposure to environmental stressors may influence brain health and contribute to the development or progression of Parkinson's disease.
Areas of ongoing research include:
Agricultural pesticides and herbicides
Industrial solvents
Air pollution
Heavy metals
Occupational exposures
Water-damaged buildings and mould exposure (including mycotoxins)
While the evidence varies for each of these factors, they all have the potential to increase oxidative stress, inflammation or place additional demands on the body's detoxification and cellular defence systems.
Not everyone exposed to these stressors will develop Parkinson's disease. However, understanding an individual's environmental history may help identify modifiable factors and support a more personalised approach to brain health.
Head Trauma
Repeated head injuries have also been associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease later in life.
This has become an important area of research, particularly in athletes and occupations where repeated concussions or head impacts are more common. While head trauma is unlikely to be the sole cause, it may contribute to changes within the brain over time.
Gut Health and Inflammation
Many people experience digestive symptoms, particularly constipation, years before Parkinson's is diagnosed.
Researchers are exploring the relationship between the gut microbiome, chronic inflammation and the brain through what is known as the gut-brain axis. Although this research is still evolving, it highlights how closely connected the digestive system and nervous system may be.
Mitochondrial Health
Healthy brain cells require an enormous amount of energy to function.
Researchers have consistently identified changes in mitochondrial function within the dopamine-producing neurons affected by Parkinson's disease. Because mitochondria also help regulate inflammation, repair and cellular resilience, they remain an important focus of Parkinson's research.
Looking Beyond the Diagnosis
Alongside conventional neurological assessment, some healthcare practitioners may recommend additional investigations to better understand a person's overall health and identify factors that could be influencing recovery or resilience.
Depending on the individual, these may include:
Nutritional assessment
Vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron and other key nutrients
Blood glucose and metabolic health
Inflammatory markers
Gut health assessment
Chemical exposure testing (where clinically indicated)
Heavy metal testing (where clinically indicated)
Mycotoxin testing (where clinically indicated)
Sleep assessment
These investigations do not diagnose Parkinson's disease, nor do they identify a single cause. Instead, they may help build a broader picture of an individual's health and support a more personalised management plan.
A Whole-Person Approach
While there is currently no single cure for Parkinson's disease, growing research suggests that supporting the health of the whole person, not just the brain, may play an important role in maintaining function and quality of life.
By understanding the many factors that influence brain health, clinicians can work with patients to develop strategies that complement conventional medical care and support long-term wellbeing.
In our next article, we'll explore the technologies and therapies being investigated to support brain health, cellular function and quality of life for people living with Parkinson's disease.
About the Author
Jennifer Harrington is a naturopath with over 20 years of clinical experience and a special interest in neurodegenerative conditions. She consults at MitoCore on Mondays and Fridays.