The genes a person is born with influence whether he or she will develop Parkinson's disease. The Mayo Clinic has identified a number of Parkinson's disease-related genes, and this week the Mayo clinic published additional conclusions in it's Parkinson's-related genetic research.
Last June, researchers at the Mayo Clinic published its findings on groups of genes that make people more susceptible to Parkinson's disease, rather than a single gene. This week a new study further proved that gene combinations make people more susceptible to Parkinson's disease.
Many of the the same gene clusters that predict Parkinson's are also indicators that a person may develop amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (often refered to as ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease). Both conditions are movement disorders and they share many symptoms and characteristics.
Predicting Parkinson's disease or ALS is important in helping future generations of people at risk of developing the conditions. If a future blood test can identify Parkinson's gene clusters early in a person's life it may be possible to use a medication or medical procedure to prevent the disease.
To read more about the most recent Mayo Clinic study of genes and how they relate to Parkinson's disease, click here.
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