Scientists have found the first evidence of a genetic mutation that would be the most common genetic cause of Parkinson’s disease identified thus far.The mutation, in the LRRK2 gene, may be responsible for up to 5 percent of cases of Parkinson’s in people with a family history of the disease, and 1.5 percent to 2 percent of cases in individuals without a family history.Genetic testing for this particular mutation may be available in as little as one year, said study co-author Andrew Singleton, chief of the molecular genetics unit at the Laboratory of Neurogenetics at the National Institute on Aging. Actual therapies, however, will take much longer to develop, he added."The whole idea of this kind of research is to get a handle on the chain of events that cause disease,” Singleton said. “Once you get a handle, you can try to interrupt the pathway. All of the therapies for Parkinson’s right now are aimed at alleviating symptoms. The whole idea is to provide a cure or to prevent the disease. In terms of understanding the disease, it’s a step forward. I think we’re really getting somewhere."The findings are published in two papers appearing online Jan. 18 in The Lancet.
