Genetic risk and age in Parkinson's disease: Continuum not stratum

Mov Disord. 2015 May;30(6):850-4. doi: 10.1002/mds.26192. Epub 2015 Mar 17.

Abstract

Background: Recent genomewide association study meta-analyses have identified 28 loci associated with risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). We sought to investigate whether these genetic risk factors are associated with PD age at onset.

Methods: Genetic risk scores from these loci were calculated for 6,249 cases. Linear regression tested associations between cumulative genetic risk and PD age at onset.

Results: Increasing genetic risk scores were associated with earlier age at onset (beta = -0.10, P = 2.92 × 10(-8) , adjusted r(2) = 0.27). Single standard deviation increase in genetic risk score is associated with 37.44 d earlier age at onset. Highest genetic risk was found at 31 to 60 y, onset slightly below average age at onset (AAO).

Conclusions: Common genetic risk factors have a small but consistent association with AAO in PD.

Keywords: Parkinson's disease; age at onset; genetics; statistics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age of Onset*
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Genome-Wide Association Study / methods*
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Risk Factors