Home › Research › Disparities
Epidemiology versus genetics in Parkinson's disease: progress in resolving an age-old debate
Langston JW.. Annals of neurology, 1998-09-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Determining the relative contributions of environment and heredity to the cause of Parkinson's disease (PD) is more than an academic issue because its resolution dictates future research directions to an enormous degree. This article reviews new advances on both sides of this equation. The recent identification of the genetic mutation responsible for parkinsonism in a large Italian kindred is likely to provide exciting new research opportunities but the mutation does not appear to be responsible for the vast majority of PD. A large twin study also points away from genetic influences as important, at least in patients with disease beginning after the age of 50 years. On the other hand, genetic influences loom large in younger-onset disease. With regard to the environment, epidemiologic studies have provided only broad, thought-tantalizing clues to the cause of the disease. Although rural living, well-water consumption, and exposure to pesticides have emerged as potential risk factors, identification of specific agents is lacking, and aging remains as the only unequivocal risk factor for the disease. The surprisingly strong inverse relationship between cigarette smoking and PD provides an intriguing lead, but novel experimental avenues to pursue this observation are not readily obvious. The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/dementia/parkinsonism complex in the western Pacific suggests the possibility of long-latency toxins, but pinning down a specific causative agent for this syndrome has eluded investigators to date. Despite the many obstacles ahead, however, research on PD appears to be more robust than ever, and our quest to find its cause appears to be under a full head of steam as we approach the 21st century.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Langston, J. W. (1998). Epidemiology versus genetics in Parkinson's disease: progress in resolving an age-old debate. Annals of neurology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.410440707
Vancouver
Langston JW. Epidemiology versus genetics in Parkinson's disease: progress in resolving an age-old debate. Annals of neurology. 1998. doi:10.1002/ana.410440707. PMID: 9749572.
BibTeX
@article{langston1998-9749572,
author = {Langston, J. W.},
title = {{Epidemiology versus genetics in Parkinson's disease: progress in resolving an age-old debate}},
journal = {Annals of neurology},
year = {1998},
doi = {10.1002/ana.410440707},
pmid = {9749572},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.410440707}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- With regard to the environment, epidemiologic studies have provided only broad, thought-tantalizing clues to the cause of the disease.
- Although rural living, well-water consumption, and exposure to pesticides have emerged as potential risk factors, identification of specific agents is lacking, and aging remains as the only unequivocal risk factor for the disease.
- The surprisingly strong inverse relationship between cigarette smoking and PD provides an intriguing lead, but novel experimental avenues to pursue this observation are not readily obvious.
- The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/dementia/parkinsonism complex in the western Pacific suggests the possibility of long-latency toxins, but pinning down a specific causative agent for this syndrome has eluded investigators to date.
- Despite the many obstacles ahead, however, research on PD appears to be more robust than ever, and our quest to find its cause appears to be under a full head of steam as we approach the 21st century.
Why it matters
This review of Parkinson's disease argues that a known genetic mutation explains only a small share of cases, that genetics matter more in younger-onset disease, and that aging is the only clear risk factor. It is about causes of Parkinson's disease, not about treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Disparities →
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 40/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Annals of neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Annals of Neurology: journal h-index 437 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1998 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 165 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 5.5 citations a year over 30 year(s) since 1998 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 10.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author J. William Langston: h-index 89 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center: institution h-index 180 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 9749572) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 40 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Related studies in Disparities
Also tagged “bodies”
1,017 studies in the library carry the topic tag “bodies”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 1,017 tagged studies.