Parkinson's Families Project
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Parkinson's Disease, Parkinsonism. Basic parameters: from 16 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United Kingdom
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
One person in every 500 has Parkinson's and around 127,000 people are living with the condition in the UK. The aim of the study is to identify new genes that predispose or cause Parkinson's Disease or Parkinsonism. There is a pressing need to study the genetic makeup of family members both with and without Parkinson's. As families share a common genetic background, it is easier to find new Parkinson's genes by studying the genetic makeup of people with Parkinson's alongside other members of their families. We are particularly interested in studying the genetic makeup of two groups of people: 1. those who developed Parkinson's before the age of 45; and 2. those who have a family history of other relatives affected by Parkinson's. By identifying genetic factors that cause Parkinson's, we hope to understand more about the condition. Doing so will lead to the development of better diagnosis, improved disease models, and we hope in time, to the development of better treatment.
Detailed description
One person in every 500 has Parkinson's and around 127,000 people are living with the condition in the UK. Unfortunately, it is a progressive disease that has no cure. Many treatments are available that can improve or maintain someone's quality of life, but the investigators would like to develop treatments that can be used much earlier in the disease process. These could slow down the disease or prevent it from progressing further.
For most people who develop Parkinson's there is no clear underlying cause. However, the investigators are particularly interested in the minority of people diagnosed with Parkinson's who have either early onset disease and/or other relatives affected with Parkinson's. The investigators believe that variations in inherited material (genes) can sometimes cause the disease, and this may run in families. This opens the door to a range of studies on the effects of gene variation at a nerve cell and brain level, which the investigators hope will lead to new targeted treatments.
It is already known that some rare gene variants can cause Parkinson's. Some of these are inherited in what is called an 'autosomal dominant' way i.e. each child of a person with this type of gene change has a 50% chance of inheriting it. However, it is also known that not everyone who carries the change will go on to develop the disease. Some people appear to be protected against developing the disease and the investigators would like to understand this better. Other variants, particularly important in early onset Parkinson's are "recessive", and in this form of inheritance there is a very low risk to parents and children.
The investigators are looking closely at the genetic makeup of people with Parkinson's in comparison with unaffected people and in comparison to unaffected and affected family members in order to find out more about which gene changes can cause Parkinson's.
Following the identification of genetic variation that causes Parkinson's, in collaboration with the NHS and other researchers, the investigators plan to: 1) develop new NHS tests of Parkinson's and 2) develop new disease model which can act as a testbed for new treatments
Primary outcome measures
- Number of participants who are clinically affected by Parkinson's disease or Parkinsonism, in relation to genetic factors. [Time frame: Through study completion, approximately 10 years]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
Clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease or parkinsonism, and either family history of Parkinson's/parkinsonism (first or second degree family member affected by Parkinson's or parkinsonism) AND/OR Early onset Parkinson's/parkinsonism (symptom onset before the age of 45 years) First or second degree family member of an Index Case, affected or unaffected by Parkinson's/parkinsonism.
Aged over 16 years
Exclusion criteria
Lack of capacity to consent to participate in the project.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Observational model
- Family-based
Study locations
United Kingdom · 2 centers
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust — London
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust — London
Identifiers
NCT: NCT02760108 · 14/0800