Dissection of the genetics of Parkinson's disease identifies an additional association 5' of SNCA and multiple associated haplotypes at 17q21.

Summary: In the largest genetic study of its kind to date, researchers analyzed the DNA of nearly 10,000 people from the UK and France to better understand the roots of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The study confirmed that variations in two specific gene regions—known as SNCA and MAPT—are strong risk factors for developing the condition. Interestingly, they discovered a new specific genetic marker near SNCA that not only influences the risk of getting PD but also correlates with the age at which symptoms first appear. While they found weak evidence for a few other suspected genes, they identified three distinct risk groups within the MAPT region, providing a clearer map for future research into how these genetic puzzles fit together to cause the disease.