Publications by authors named "W Pirker"
A rare variant in the UQCRC1 gene, p.(Gly405Val) in three Austrian Parkinson's patients.
Parkinsonism Relat Disord
December 2024
Background: Variants in the UQCRC1 gene have been proposed to cause autosomal dominant Parkinson's disease with neuropathy. However, definitive confirmation of UQCRC1 as an authentic Parkinson's gene remains elusive, as follow-up studies have not yet provided conclusive evidence.
Methods: 382 Austrian Parkinson's patients, particularly selected for familial and/or early onset cases, were Exome sequenced.
Article Synopsis
- The study explores how copy number variations (CNVs) affect the development of Parkinson's disease (PD), aiming to identify new genetic mechanisms linked to sporadic cases of the disease.
- Utilizing data from over 11,000 PD patients and nearly 9,000 controls, the researchers discovered 14 significant CNV loci associated with PD, including various gene duplications and deletions.
- The research highlights a higher prevalence of CNVs in specific PD-related genes among patients and suggests that certain CNVs, especially those involving the gene, may lead to earlier onset of the disease in early-onset PD cases.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and Parkinson's disease (PD) using a method called Mendelian randomization to determine if higher genetically predicted BMI is linked to a lower incidence of PD.
- Researchers analyzed genetic data from large groups of individuals, including over 800,000 for BMI and nearly 29,000 for PD, focusing on factors like age, disease duration, and gender to examine the associations.
- Results indicated an inverse relationship between genetically predicted BMI and PD, particularly among younger participants and women, suggesting that lower BMI may be associated with a higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
Article Synopsis
- Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to symptoms like parkinsonism and ataxia, but its genetic causes are not well understood and treatment options are limited to supportive care.
- A comprehensive study involving the whole genome sequencing of nearly 900 MSA patients and over 7,000 controls discovered four key genetic risk factors associated with the disease.
- The research identified potential susceptibility genes and provided insights into how genetic variations influence gene expression in brain cells, offering a valuable resource for further studies on similar diseases.
Bi-allelic pathogenic variants in PRKN are the most common cause of autosomal recessive Parkinson's disease (PD). 647 patients with PRKN-PD were included in this international study. The pathogenic variants present were characterised and investigated for their effect on phenotype.
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