HUMAN GENETIC BANK OF PATIENTS AFFECTED BY PARKINSON DISEASE AND PARKINSONISMS

Parkinson disease is a common neurodegenerative disorder which ranges fromfully genetic (Mendelian) forms to forms with more subtle genetic origin.Molecular genetics has been giving important contributions to the elucidationof the molecular mechanisms which lead to the disease by identifying genesmutated in the genetic forms. Until today, eight forms of familial PDhave been found although for only 3 of these forms has a gene been discovered.It is therefore likely that new genes associated with PD will be recognisedin the near future.This project consists in collecting and storing DNA samples from a largenumber of PD patients attending the Parkinson Institute of Milan. DNA and matchingclinical and follow-up information will be rendered anonymous and made available to the research community for genetic investigations of PD.The value of the DNA Bank is given by its large size and by the detailedmedical records corresponding to each single DNA sample. These two conditionsare in fact essential for the success of any kind of genetic study.