Genetics of Parkinson disease and other movement disorders

Abstract

Purpose of review: We will review the recent advances in the genetics of Parkinson disease and other movement disorders such as dystonia, essential tremor and restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Recent findings: Mutations in VPS35 were identified as a novel cause of autosomal dominant Parkinson disease using exome sequencing. Next generation sequencing (NGS) was also used to identify PRRT2 mutations as a cause of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (DYT10). Using a different technique, that is linkage analysis, mutations in EIF4G1 were implicated as a cause of Parkinson disease and mutations in SLC20A2 as a cause of familial idiopathic basal ganglia calcification. Furthermore, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and meta-analyses have confirmed known risk genes and identified new risk loci in Parkinson disease, RLS and essential tremor. New models to study genetic forms of Parkinson disease, such as stem cell-derived neurons, have helped to elucidate disease-relevant molecular pathways, such as the molecular link between Gaucher disease and Parkinson disease.

Summary: New genes have been implicated in Parkinson disease and other movement disorders through the use of NGS. The identification of risk variants has been facilitated by GWAS and meta-analyses. Furthermore, new models are being developed to study the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of these diseases.