A recent article in Parkinson’s News Today described new findings associated with mutations in the LRRK2 gene, which are associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Indications are that patients with the LRRK2 gene may be at greater risk of developing symptoms of metabolic syndrome which exposes them to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or stroke.
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions occurring together and includes:
- Increased blood pressure
- High blood sugar
- Abdominal obesity
- High triglyceride and/or cholesterol
Note that having one or more of these symptoms is not a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Also, serious lifestyle changes may even prevent or delay certain conditions.
About the New Findings
Research was coordinated through the Tel-Aviv Medical Center and Columbia University Medical Center.
A total of 562 people were included in the study. Of the 214 Parkinson’s patients in the group, forty people were detected with LRRK2 mutations. Seventy people had mutations in one copy of the GBA gene, one of the most common risk factors of PD.
PD patients with the GBA mutation are inclined to have:
- Earlier motor symptom dysfunction
- More rapid cognitive decline
- Problems with walking and balance
A total of 104 PD patients did not appear to have mutations connected to the disorder (idiopathic disease).
And lastly, a cohort of 348 people did not have PD. Included in that group, fifty-five people had the LRRK2 mutations and another ninety-seven people were found to have GBA mutations. These people were considered to be “non-manifesting carriers”. In other words, they did have the mutation, but the disease did not “manifest” or was not apparent during the study.
Although the researchers observed the association between metabolic syndrome and the LRRK2 gene, they were unable to make that same connection among subjects who had or did not have PD.
However, they observed that patients with LRRK2 gene mutations had much higher rates of prediabetes and triglyceride levels than people with idiopathic PD or disease-causing GBA mutations.
About Prodromal Parkinson’s Disease
It is possible for some people to have Parkinson’s symptoms without having all of the indicators the disease. In these cases the diagnose is “prodromal Parkinson’s disease” or early symptoms signaling its onset.
People predisposed to prodromal disease were observed to be at higher risk of elevated blood triglyceride levels (hypertriglyceridemia) and for prediabetes.
Researchers see an opportunity in that extended period before the onset of PD to initiate neuroprotective therapies when these treatments would have the most effect.
