title: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T genotype and PD.
abstract: In a prospective, population-based cohort study among 5,920 participants aged 55 years or older, we observed that the TT variant of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism is associated with an increased risk for Parkinson's disease in smokers. Both smoking and the TT genotype are known to induce hyperhomocystinemia, and synergistic effects on homocysteine levels have been reported. Increased plasma levels of homocysteine through direct neurotoxic effects might accelerate the selective dopaminergic cell death underlying Parkinson's disease. Our findings support the hypothesis that homocysteine plays a role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lonneke M L
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Lau
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Koudstaal
authors.forename: Joyce B J
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: van Meurs
authors.forename: André G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Uitterlinden
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: Monique M B
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Breteler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D017354:Point Mutation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)