Mutations in a newly discovered gene can lead to Parkinson's disease, even where there is no family history.

Researchers at the National Institute of Aging have found mutations in a gene on chromosome 1 in a group of patients with Parkinson's disease. The gene, known as DJ-1, is one of the most recent Parkinson's genes to be discovered - as mutations were discovered in two families in the Netherlands and Italy where several members had the condition.

In the current study, 107 patients with Parkinson's disease were studied, of whom 69 had no family history of the condition. One of these latter group also had the DJ-1 mutations. It underlines the fact that genes can play a role, even if there is no family history. The gene mutation probably interacts with environmental factors to increase the risk of getting Parkinson's. It's not yet known what DJ-1 does or why it's implicated in Parkinson's disease. But the discovery of these mutations is an important starting point for further investigation.

Source

Annals of Neurology on-line 30th June 2003