Gene mutation may influence age of onset of Parkinson's disease

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

In a family study, researchers investigate a link between mutations in the parkin gene and age at which Parkinson's disease sets in.
Parkinson’s disease affects around one per cent of individuals aged 60 or older and four to five per cent of those over 85. The disease is charaterized by symptoms like tremor, ridigity and difficulty in walking. A team at Massachussetts General Hospital now reports on how genes influence the age of onset of the disease. It is already known that 50 per cent of those with juvenile Parkinson’s (onset before age 21) have mutations in the parkin gene. And 10 to 25 per cent of those with early-onset (before age 50) had such mutations.

They looked at 183 families in which two or more members had Parkinson’s. At least one member had developed the condition before the age of 54, or two affected siblings had identical versions of the parkin gene. Genetic screening revealed that 12.6 per cent of families contain at least one member with a mutated parkin gene. Those with mutations developed Parkinson’s disease at the average age of 42.9 years. The more mutations, the earlier the onset of the disease. The study suggests that genetic screening may be worthwhile among those with a family history of Parkinson’s dsisease.

Source
Archives of Neurology June 2006 Volume 63 pages 826-832

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