[Stitcher]

Gene May Boost Parkinson's Before Age 50
Gene Mutations Linked to Early Onset of Parkinson's Disease

By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Sept. 17, 2007 -- Scientists have a new gene clue about why some people develop Parkinson's disease before age 50.

Researchers report that certain mutations in the GBA gene are linked to the early onset of Parkinson's disease.

That doesn't mean that everyone with those mutations develops Parkinson's disease, or that everyone with Parkinson's disease has those gene mutations.

But the findings do suggest that those mutations "may modify age at onset" of Parkinson's disease for some patients, write Columbia University's Lorraine Clark, PhD, and colleagues.

Clark's team analyzed the GBA gene in 278 Parkinson's patients and 179 people without Parkinson's disease.


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[vlhperry]

Thanks Caroline,

I am participating in phase 2 of a gene study at Columbia.

Vicky