Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition that impairs movement, balance, and coordination. While the exact cause of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is unknown, it is seen to be extremely common in the elderly and has genetic and environmental factors that contribute to the development and progression of the disease. Since the direct cause is unknown, there are currently no medications that work for PD, although there are treatment options available to slow down the progression and severity of the condition. PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, following Alzheimer's disease at number one. Due to this, there has been a lot of research and studies performed in attempts to have a better understanding of this condition and potentially find an efficient cure for it.
The research article, “Multi-ancestry analysis reveals new genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s disease” discusses the results found through a large, multi-ancestry genome-wide study that was conducted by the NIA. This research approach focused on identifying the genetic factors associated with Parkinson’s amongst Europeans, East Asians, Latin Americans, and those with African ancestry. Through this study, scientists discovered a brain tissue pathway that contributed to various systems in the body and they found that risk genes function in groups when they are present. These findings allow physicians and healthcare professionals to predict a patient’s risk for PD and may allow for the development of improved treatments.
Dr Mary Makarious, a Loyola graduate, shared her experience with Parkinson’s disease research at a Neuroscience seminar late September. She emphasized her work with the Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program, also known as GP2. The primary aim of this program is to accelerate the identification of novel genetic causes of PD and to enable researchers to gain a greater understanding of any previously identified genetic causes.
Currently, the priority for the research being done on Parkinson’s disease is in regards to deepening our understanding on the genetic variants we already know while also using this knowledge to develop new and improved treatment options for affected individuals. The direction of this research is incredibly crucial, especially to the new generation of researchers and scientists. With further resources, funding and accessibility, more research and discoveries will definitely be made in regards to the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
References:
Kim JJ, et al. Multi-ancestry genome-wide association meta-analysis of Parkinson’s disease. Nature Genetics. 2024;56(1):27-36. doi:10.1038/s41588-023-01584-8.
Lange, Lara M., et al. “Elucidating Causative Gene Variants in Hereditary Parkinson’s Disease in the Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2).” Npj Parkinson's Disease, vol. 9, no. 1, 27 June 2023, www.nature.com/articles/s41531-023-00526-9, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-023-00526-9.
No comments:
Post a Comment