During the first half of this semester (Fall 2025), we had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Mary Makarious talk about the Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2), a worldwide research project that focused on finding the genetic causes of Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement and occurs when nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine begin to break down. This leads to symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness, slow movements, and balance problems, as well as non-motor issues like sleep disturbances or depression. Dr. Makarious explained that most of the genetic data we have comes from European populations, which leaves big gaps in what we know about the disease that affects people from other parts of the world. GP2 works with scientists in over 60 countries to collect and study genetic information from underrepresented groups. The program also helps train young researchers and supports labs in places that have fewer resources.
The article “Ethnic Variation in the Manifestation of Parkinson’s Disease: A Narrative Review” talks about how Parkinson’s looks different in people from different parts of the world. The authors explain that most studies have focused on White patients, so we still don’t know much about how the disease affects Black, Asian, or Hispanic communities. They mention that genetics, environment, access to healthcare, and even culture can change how Parkinson’s develops and shows up in each group. Similarly, “The Epidemiology of Parkinson’s Disease,” published in The Lancet (2024), discusses how Parkinson’s varies between regions and populations. The researchers found that the disease is more common in older people and men, but the rates differ depending on the country. For example, some Asian and African countries have lower rates compared to Europe and North America, possibly due to differences in genetics, environment, or access to healthcare. In these two articles, both talk about the same problem, the lack of diversity in research and how that limits what we know about Parkinson’s around the world. This connects directly to what Dr. Makarious said about why programs like GP2 are so important. By including people from all backgrounds and studying Parkinson’s in many countries, scientists can better understand the disease and make treatments that are fair and effective for everyone.
It’s incredible that even today, with so much technology and better healthcare, we still know so little about Parkinson’s. Many articles mention the same problem of limited information and not enough diversity in research. Dr. Makarious’s talk and the articles discussed earlier show how complex this disease really is and how much more there is to discover. Programs like GP2 are especially important because they focus on bringing scientists from around the world together to study these differences and share what they learn about Parkinson’s disease.By working as a team, we can understand the disease more fully and create treatments that actually help everyone. What Dr. Makarious is doing is truly inspiring because she’s making science more inclusive and giving underrepresented communities the chance to finally be seen and heard in research.
Reference:
Ben-Shlomo, Y., Darweesh, S., Lilbre-Guerra, J., Marras, C., San Luciano, M., & Tanner, C. (2024).The epidemiology of Parkinson’s disease. Lancet (London, England), 403(10423), 283-292. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01419-8
Ben-Joseph A, Marshall CR, Lees AJ, Noyce AJ. Ethnic Variation in the Manifestation of Parkinson’s Disease: A Narrative Review. Journal of Parkinson’s Disease. 2019;10(1):31-45. doi:10.3233/JPD-191763
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