Six Previously Unreported Genes Linked to Risk of Developing Parkinson's Disease

Genomic researchers have identified more than two dozen genetic risk factors implicated in the development of Parkinson's disease including six genetic loci that had not been reported previously.

Investigators at the [US] National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, MD, USA) reviewed and collated data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in order to identify common variants in the genomes of 13,708 Parkinson's disease patients and 95,282 controls, all of European ancestry.


They reported the identification of 26 loci as having genome-wide significant association. These and six additional previously reported loci were then tested in an independent set of 5,353 cases and 5,551 controls. Using a sophisticated gene chip called NeuroX, the investigators confirmed that 24 variants represented genetic risk factors for Parkinson's disease, including six variants that had not been previously identified. The NeuroX gene chip incorporates approximately 24,000 common genetic variants thought to be associated with a broad spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders.

"The study brought together a large international group of investigators from both public and private institutions who were interested in sharing data to accelerate the discovery of genetic risk factors for Parkinson's disease," said contributing author Dr. Margaret Sutherland, a program director at the [US] National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. "The advantage of this collaborative approach is highlighted in the identification of pathways and gene networks that may significantly increase our understanding of Parkinson's disease. The replication phase of the study demonstrates the utility of the NeuroX chip for unlocking the secrets of neurodegenerative disorders. The power of these high tech, data-driven genomic methods allows scientists to find the needle in the haystack that may ultimately lead to new treatments."

The study was published in the July 27, 2014, online edition of the journal Nature Genetics.

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