Investigations advancing on genetics of Parkinson's disease

The researchers from Emory University School of Medicine are conducting studies on the individuals with the genetic mutations that could be associated with Parkinson’s disease as the part of the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative. It a high scale biomarker study that is sponsored by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. The PPMI is planning on studying the clinical and the imaging data of biological samples from the people suffering from a genetic mutation and will identify biomarkers and the speed clinical trials. They will be studying 250 people having LRRK2 mutation and Parkinson’s and another 250 people those who do not have it. Stewart Factor, DO, Director of the Emory Comprehensive Parkinson's Disease Center and director of the Emory Movement Disorders Center at Emory explains, “Studying individuals with genetic mutations associated with Parkinson's can accelerate our research toward a PD biomarker and more effective treatments. Although known genetic mutations currently account for only five to 10 percent of all Parkinson's cases, this population can provide invaluable information about the intricacies of the disease for all patients.”