PARKINSON'S DISEASE NEWS

21st March 2008 - New research

NEW GENETIC FORM OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE

American Journal of Human Genetics [2008] Apr 11; [Epub ahead of print] (Corinne Lautier, Stefano Goldwurm, Alexandra Dürr, Barbara Giovannone, William G. Tsiaras, Gianni Pezzoli, Alexis Brice, Robert J. Smith) Complete study

According to this study, mutations in the gene, known as GIGYF2, appear to be directly linked to the development of Parkinson’s in people with a family history of the disease. GIGYF2 was found to be located right in the centre of a chromosomal region called PARK 11, a region that was initially identified through a genetic analysis of families with Parkinson’s disease. The researchers identified seven different forms of GIGYF2 mutations occurring in 12 different people, which was approximately 5% of those in the study. All of them had relatives with Parkinson's Disease. Eight of these patients had at least one parent with Parkinson’s, one had both parents affected, and three had one sibling affected. When available, relatives with Parkinson’s were also sampled. Researchers found they carried the same mutation, which led to single amino acid substitutions in the protein encoded by the GIGYF2 gene. None of the mutations were observed in those that did not have Parkinson's Disease. For more information go to the Complete article.

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Parkinson's Disease details all significant new research, news reports, new books, and new resources concerning Parkinson's Disease and those medical disorders that often coincide with Parkinson's Disease : Parkinsonism, Essential Tremor, Dystonia, Restless Legs Syndrome, and Dementia. It is compiled from an analysis of  all newly published research, news reports, new clinical trials, all newly published books, and new web sites. A summary and analysis of the new research are provided,  as well as links to the complete abstracts and news reports.