Neurogenetics
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Mutations in the LRRK2 gene are a cause of autosomal dominant Parkinson's disease (PD). Whether LRRK2 variants influence susceptibility to the commoner, sporadic forms of PD remains largely unknown. Data are particularly limited concerning the Asian population. ⋯ Two novel variants, Met1869Val and Glu1874Stop, were found in one PD case each; their pathogenic role remains, therefore, uncertain. The remaining two novel variants (Ala419Val and Pro755Leu) were present with similar frequency in cases and controls, and were therefore, interpreted as disease-unrelated polymorphisms. Our findings suggest that the LRRK2 Gly2385Arg is the first identified, functionally relevant variant, which acts as common risk factor for sporadic PD in the population of Chinese ethnicity.