The impacts of prominent gene polymorphisms in DNA repair enzymes on Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's Disease (PD), a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disease of the brain, is associated with the loss of dopaminergic neurons. Its pathogenesis remains unclear; however, oxidative DNA damage due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) is believed to play a major role in the etiology of PD. DNA repair systems can mitigate oxidative DNA damage and help to maintain genomic stability and thus prevent neuronal death.