title: Genetics and Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Idiopathic Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects 1-2% of the population over the age of 65 years. Its aetiology is most likely a combination of complex genetic and environmental factors. Although Mendelian inheritance is seen in less than 5% of cases, recent studies have identified three genes mutations causing Parkinson's disease with a Mendelian inheritance pattern: autosomal dominantly inherited mutations of the alpha-synuclein gene on chromosome 4q21-q23, autosomal recessively inherited mutations of the parkin gene on chromosome 6q25.2-q27 and an autosomal dominantly inherited mutation of the Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) gene on chromosome 4p14-15.1. A number of other candidate gene polymorphisms including cytochrome P450 2D6, N-acetyltransferase 2, monoamine oxidase-B and glutathione-s-transferase M1 are implicated in sporadic and familial cases and may also play a minor role in the aetiology of Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, Eldridge Rd, NSW, Bankstown, Australia. DCordato@Southern-Neurology.com.au
authors.forename: Dennis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Cordato
authors.forename: Daniel K Y
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D005823:Genetics; D006801:Humans; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins