How close are we to individualized medicine for Parkinson's disease?
There is a considerable inter-individual heterogeneity in clinical features, disease course, and treatment response in Parkinson's disease (PD), which can be explained not only by disease process and clinical variables, but also by an impact from genetic factors. Evidence-based medicine relies on large randomized control trials and meta-analysis-average medicine, which ignores individual differences. However, we are now in the early phases of a paradigm shift in medicine relating to individuality and variability. The purpose of individualized medicine is to predict patients' responses to targeted therapy using diagnostic tests based on genetics or other molecular mechanisms, thus providing the right drug at the right dose at the right time.



In this article, we outline current state of individualized medicine for PD. Expert Commentary: Pharmacogenomics, an important element of individualized medicine, is just beginning to be considered in PD. To advance the clinical use of pharmacogenomics, big data cohort for genomic research and multidisciplinary team approaches are necessary.
a Department of Neurology , Konkuk University Medical Center , Seoul , South Korea.|b Parkinson Disease Study Group , Seoul National University Hospital , Seoul , South Korea.
Hee Jin
HJ
Kim
a Department of Neurology , Konkuk University Medical Center , Seoul , South Korea.|c Department of Neurology and Movement Disorder Center, College of Medicine , Seoul National University , Seoul , South Korea.
Beomseok
B
Jeon
D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D057285:Precision Medicine
Parkinson’s disease; genetic polymorphism; individualized medicine; personalized medicine; pharmacogenetics; precision medicine