Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that occurs due to a progressive degeneration of dopaminergic (DA)
neurons. Brain area affected by progressive destruction of neurons controls movements, and patients with PD reveal rigid and
uncontrollable gestures, postural instability, small handwriting and tremor. There are some risk factors that have been proven to
trigger PD with a certain probability (for example insecticides exposure, and genetic and environmental factors), but still can not
say for sure which are all risk factors for this terrible disease. Also, many other leads were analyzed, such as exposure to certain
metals, toxins, head trauma, constipation, low intake of antioxidants, infection (chicken pox, measles, rubella, mumps), but no
studies have shown clear links with them. The aim of this study is to examine the association between Parkinson’s disease and
exposure to environmental factors such as living in the Bucovina Region (Suceava District, North of Eastern Carpathians).
Exposure to metals such as lead, manganese, iron, copper and uranium have been of interest since some occupational studies
focused on mining identified them as potential risk factors for PD. Moreover, we have done a statistical study based on Markov
chains regarding this disease prediction and we have developed a specific screening test for early diagnosis of Parkinson’s
disease.