Spotlight: Parkinson’s Disease
Posted on 05. Apr, 2010 by Mariam Amiri in Health
British scientists said Thursday they have identified a gene which causes some cases of Parkinson’s Disease. The researchers, from London’s Institute of Neurology, said the findings could open up new avenues of research into other genetic factors that can predispose people to develop the disease, BBC News Online reported. Parkinson’s is a degenerative, neurological condition which has no cure. It is not usually a genetic condition, but there are some cases where it does run in families. The researchers studied three families from Italy and Spain with several members suffering from the disease. When they analyzed the families’ DNA, they found mutations in a gene called PINK, which provides coded instructions for a protein that affects chemical reactions within cells. They said they hope the finding might lead to research into other genetic factors that affect the chances of developing Parkinson’s.