Suspected anti-Parkinson's gene spotted in 23andMe database

October 31, 2011 | By Ryan McBride

A genetic finding has triggered research that could lead to a new weapon against Parkinson's disease, a neurological disorder in dire need of new therapies. And the discovery has come from a somewhat non-traditional source: the vast personal genetics database of the private company 23andMe.

Mountain View, CA-based 23andMe made its discovery while building a relatively massive database of genetic information on Parkinson's patients, with more than 6,000 people with incurable disease involved in its program. About half of people who carry a mutation on the LRRK2 gene develop Parkinson's, but 23andMe's database showed there were many people with the mutation who don't have the disease. The common thread among these high-risk people who beat the odds was the gene SGK1, which researchers have theorized could protect people from the disease.



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(sorry if a repost--I do not remember seeing this info about SGK1. madelyn)