Five New Genes Responsible for Parkinson’s Identified

Following the largest ever genetic analysis of Parkinson’s disease by researchers, five new genes responsible for the disease have been identified, which will have significant impact on early diagnosis and possible therapies for Parkinson’s disease. Earlier six genomic variants linked to the disease were identified, bringing the total number of genomic variants associated with Parkinson’s, to 11.

This study by a 130-member International Parkinson Disease Genomics Consortium had researchers from U.S., U.K., Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Iceland. They mapped and analyzed the DNA of 12, 000 people afflicted by Parkinson’s disease and 21,000 normal people, across Europe and America. The study was led by Andrew Singleton, PhD, of the National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland, USA and Nick Wood, MBChB, PhD, of University College London in England.

The researchers observed, ” This study provides evidence that common genetic variation plays an important part in the cause of Parkinson’s disease. We have confirmed a strong genetic component to Parkinson’s disease which, until recently, was thought to be completely caused by environmental factors.”

The study revealed that 20% of people who had the maximum number of risk variants were 2.5 times more susceptible to Parkinson’s as compared with 20% people with the least number of genetic risk factors.

The study is a starting point as it provides an insight into the major genetic variants of Parkinson’s and researchers are sure they will soon piece together the complex structure of the molecules responsible for Parkinson’s.

“We haven’t put together all the pieces of the puzzle yet, but we’re not that far off,” said Nick Wood.