Parkinson's disease and age: The obvious but largely unexplored link

Parkinson's disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder with increased prevalence in the aging population. It is estimated that approximately 1.5 million individuals in the US alone suffer from Parkinson's disease and with the extension of life expectancy this number is expected to rise dramatically within the next twenty-five years. The majority of Parkinson's disease cases are sporadic. But mutations in genes such as α-synuclein, Parkin, PINK1, DJ-1 and LRRK2, have been conclusively associated with both early- and late-onset of the disease. Although the genetics of Parkinson's disease is starting to become unraveled, the interplay between genetic and environmental factors is largely unknown as are the underlying mechanisms that trigger the disease as the brain ages. The risk of Parkinson's disease increases dramatically in individuals over the age of 60 and it is estimated that more than 1% of all seniors have some form of the condition. In this review, we will highlight some of the central proteins associated with Parkinson's disease and how they may be linked to processes and factors associated with age.