Parkinson's disease & genetics

When you have a close relative who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, it can make you wonder if the same diagnosis is in store for you or for others in your family in the future.

Is Parkinson’s disease genetic?

Only about 10% to 15% of cases of Parkinson’s can be identified as being related to heredity (genetics). Most of the people who have Parkinson’s have no family history.

Mutations and alterations in dozens of genes have been identified as being related to Parkinson’s. But we don’t know what it is about these gene changes that increases a person’s risk for Parkinson’s. Many people who have those gene changes will never have Parkinson’s.

A few ethnic groups, like people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and North African Arab Berbers, seem to have more genes related to Parkinson’s. Researchers are trying to figure out why this is so.

What causes Parkinson’s disease?

We still don’t know what causes Parkinson’s (sometimes called Parkinson disease). Scientists currently believe that a combination of environmental, genetic and lifestyle factors contribute to Parkinson’s disease. More men than women are diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

There is no test that will tell you whether you have Parkinson’s. You need an expert who knows how to diagnose Parkinson’s. Experts at Advocate will examine you, take your health history and observe any symptoms. Since there are lots of other conditions that may cause similar symptoms, those other conditions may need to be ruled out before you receive a definitive Parkinson’s disease diagnosis.

Should you get tested for genes related to Parkinson’s?

Although genetic testing is available, most at-home tests only check for some of the related genes. A genetic counselor can provide guidance about whether to test, what tests to use and what to do once you get the results.

Even if you test negative for genes known to be associated with Parkinson’s, you may still get the disease. There also could be other related genes that we don’t know about, so we aren’t testing for them yet. Or you could test positive for one or more genes and never get Parkinson’s. Research continues to try to find causes and better treatments for this disease.