neurologic disorders
Parkinson Disease
Etiology of Parkinson Disease
A genetic predisposition is likely, at least in some cases of Parkinson disease. About 10% of patients have a family history of Parkinson disease. Several abnormal genes have been identified. Inheritance is autosomal dominant for some genes and autosomal recessive for others. A mutation in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2; also known asPARK8) is a gene that codes for the dardarin protein. Worldwide, it is the most prevalent mutation in sporadic cases of Parkinson disease in patients ≥ 50 (in about 2%), and it is the most prevalent autosomal dominant mutation of the inherited forms of the disease. In genetic forms, age at onset tends to be younger, but the course is typically more benign than that of later-onset, presumably nongenetic Parkinson disease. 