Resource Report

URL: http://ki.se/en/research/spotlight-on-parkinsons-disease

Proper Citation: KI Biobank - Parkinson (RRID:SCR_008866)

Description: The primary purpose is to assess the importance of environmental factors for Parkinson's Disease (PD) in a population-based sample of Swedish twins. In PD discordant twin pairs, what are the environmental factors that contribute to the disease in the affected twin and or protect the unaffected twin? Second, we want to investigate whether the earlier reports of low heritability for elderly male twins can be confirmed for female pairs. All twins 55 years of age and older in the Swedish Twin Registry have been screened for most complex diseases. 626 twins have screened positive for PD and most pairs are discordant. To establish diagnosis, a physician will examine all potential cases and their co-twins and their medical records will be reviewed. Environmental factors will be studied through the use of discordant pairs, where genetic susceptibility to the disease can be controlled. Environmental exposures are being secured with telephone interviews and from a questionnaire collected 30 years ago. Recent results indicate that genetic factors play a very small role. A better understanding of the etiology of PD is important for the possibility of delaying onset or even preventing the disease, as well as for providing guidance for molecular biology studies. Types of samples * DNA Number of sample donors: 333 (sample collection completed)

Abbreviations: KI Biobank - Parkinson

Synonyms: Twin Study of Environmental Factors in Parkinson's Disease

Resource Type: biomaterial supply resource, material resource

Keywords: twin, environment, environmental exposure, interview, genetic factor, gene, twin study, adult, middle adult human, late adult human