Identifies Six New Genetic Risk Factors for Parkinson’s Disease

With Parkinson’s Disease becoming more prevalent in the world everyday, researchers are racing to find a cure. Genetics provides clues on how scientists might combat the disease. New research published in the journal Nature Genetics from the National Institutes of Health found that a state-of-the-art gene chip successfully pinpointed six new genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s. This will aid many in the fight to eradicate the disease, as understanding the genes affected by this neurological disorder will allow drug therapies to be tested and implemented into patients’ medical care.

Although there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s, previous research has focused on a number of genes that might be affected. In this particular study, a genome-wide association was examined in 13,708 participants that had Parkinson’s disease, along with 95,282 controls. Many collaborations were made to ensure the success of the study including those between the team and the US Department of Defense and the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

After testing over 7.8 million genetic variants, the research team discovered 26 genetic variants that could increase someone’s risk of getting Parkinson’s. Participants who possessed these variants were up to three times more likely to get the disease.

After identifying them, the team later tested to determine if the 26 variants, including six additional ones would increase the risk of the disease in 5,353 of the participants that already had Parkinson’s, using 5,551 controls. Employing the use of a gene chip known as NeuroX, scientists were able to compare 32 genetic variants with those on the chip, which can hold 24,000 genetic variants associated with various neurological diseases.

As a result of these studies, researchers were able to accurately confirm 24 variants that increase people’s risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease. Six of these variants had been previously unknown to researchers. One of the head researchers remarked of this study that “unraveling the genetic underpinnings of Parkinson’s is vital to understanding the mechanisms involved in this complex disease, and may one day lead to effective therapies.” Some of the newly pinpointed variants are linked to Gaucher’s Disease, and are known to regulate inflammation, dopamine, and a protein called alpha-synuclein. This protein has been shown to accumulate in the brains of those with Parkinson’s. As a result of these advances in medical testing, researchers are closing in on the exact genetic mechanisms that allow Parkinson’s Disease to develop. 

Author

Gary Starkman Dr. Starkman, a top Neurologist in NYC, is the Medical Director and founder of New York Neurology Associates. He is Board Certified in Neurology with a subspecialty certification in Pain Medicine.