So, let’s define neuron degeneration first. The word degeneration is referring to something that has been generated, and they are degenerating. So they kind of exist, and they are like now dying back, or disappearing.
When we were embryos in embryonic development, we started having neurons, brain development and when we were born, we grew our neurons. If they don’t have any problem, they will function properly for the rest of our lives. But if they have some problems, neurons are one of the types of the cells that, despite having some problems, can make us long live, at a level that we don’t realise those problems yet.
This is why neurodegenerative disease is usually diagnosed at our late ages. So some problems were actually there since birth, but like neuron managed itself to function until a certain age. Then there was an accumulation of that problem, and then couldn’t cope with it anymore.
Is there any difference in terms of ethnicity in those things? I wouldn’t say this is at the molecular or genetic level, because ethnicity is a term I would, as a person, I would use more at the social and cultural level. Of course, we have genetic sharing, and within the same ethnic group, we will have more sharing compared to others. But don’t forget that that falls into the 1% difference.
The other things, what you expect from an embryo and how it develops, it’s going to be the same. If there is a certain type of exposure of things for a certain ethnicity, in a certain region, then you might see that this is impacting the disease development more than others. You know, for example, the regions that lack sunlight affecting vitamin D level, which people conclude saying that the prevalence of multiple sclerosis – which is a type of brain disease, is seen more in those areas.
Does this define an ethnic link? I’m not sure about that. These things to me are more like environmental factors that ethnic groups are living in. It’s not about their genes that’s doing something extra, or differently than others to them.
