My name is Eitan Gross, 58 years old, father of Gil (22) and Eyal (20), and professor of biology at the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot. I was diagnosed at the age of 53. Since the diagnosis, I have slowed down in my work and personal life and try to do mostly what I love. My great loves are the study of mitochondria, the generators of our body cells, and improvisational dance.
Since the diagnosis, I have also started investigating in my laboratory the possible connection between mitochondrial "fatigue" and the onset of Parkinson's. Our brain cells that produce dopamine, the dopaminergic cells, are among the most active cells in the brain, so their mitochondria tire quickly. For this reason, our working assumption is that the dopaminergic cells are at high risk of losing activity, as happens in Parkinson's disease. If the assumption of our work proves to be correct then treatments to strengthen mitochondrial activity may slow down the progression of the disease.

In addition to my love of cell generators and improvisational dance, I like to garden. I mostly like to plant seasonal flowers, weed the ground, harvest the grass, and run/watch the sprinklers. Is there a connection between mitochondria, dancing and gardening? The only connection I can think of is that they are three of my loves!

Eitan Gross
Contact: atan.gross@weizmann.ac.il

Eitan is an example of how to deal with Parkinson's disease. By his courtesy, he participated in a video to increase awareness of Parkinson's in collaboration with the Parkinson's Association in Israel. Click here for video...

To view the article about Eitan on the Weizmann Institute of Science website Click here...