Genetics of Parkinson disease and essential tremor.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose of review

Elucidating the genetic background of Parkinson disease and essential tremor is crucial to understand the pathogenesis and improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Recent findings

A number of approaches have been applied including familial and association studies, and studies of gene expression profiles to identify genes involved in susceptibility to Parkinson disease. These studies have nominated a number of candidate Parkinson disease genes and novel loci including Omi/HtrA2, GIGYF2, FGF20, PDXK, EIF4G1 and PARK16. A recent notable finding has been the confirmation for the role of heterozygous mutations in glucocerebrosidase (GBA) as risk factors for Parkinson disease. Finally, association studies have nominated genetic variation in the leucine-rich

SUBMITTER: Wider C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3930090 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature