 OCTOBER 31 • 2019 | 51

R

esearchers know muta-
tions to the BRCA1 
and BRCA2 genes, 
increasing a woman’
s chanc-
es of getting breast cancer, 
are more common among 
Ashkenazic women than 
women in the general popu-
lation.
 “Today, researchers are 
investigating another gene 
mutation, this time related 
to Parkinson’
s disease (PD), 
which may also be linked to 
the Ashkenazic population,” 
says Peter A. 
LeWitt, director 
of Parkinson’
s 
disease research 
at Henry Ford 
Hospital and 
neurology pro-
fessor at Wayne 
State University School of 
Medicine.
Parkinson’
s disease is a pro-
gressive nervous disorder that 
affects movement. Symptoms 
start gradually, often with a 
slight tremor in one hand, 
and then become worse as 
the patient’
s condition pro-
gresses. Although PD can’
t 
be cured, some medications 
may significantly improve its 
symptoms. Doctors may also 
suggest surgery to improve 
symptoms by regulating cer-
tain regions of the brain. 
The cause of Parkinson’
s 
disease is unknown, but 
many researchers believe it 
is caused by a combination 

of factors, some based on 
genetics and others more 
influenced by environmental 
factors. However, because 
not everyone who carries 
these genetic mutations will 
get Parkinson’
s, it is thought 
other factors such as the 
environment (pesticides) and 
age (usually around age 60 or 
older) play an important role. 
Also, more men develop PD 
than women.
“Over the past decade, 
researchers have identified 
a handful of genes in which 
genetic mutations greatly 
increase the risk,” LeWitt 
says. “The most common is 
the mutated version of kinase 
2 (LRRK2), which is respon-
sible for 1-2 percent of PD 
cases but is much higher in 
people with Ashkenazi Jewish 
ancestry.”
Pharmaceutical compa-
nies are interested in this 
gene because it produces an 
enzyme called a kinase — 
dozens of drugs that inhibit 
the activity of kinases have 
been approved in the last 30 
years, primarily for cancer. 
Drug developers started 
working on inhibiting over-
active kinases in neurode-
generative and infectious 
diseases. One concern with 
this approach is the possible 
side effects from inhibiting 
LRRK2.
“Today, there is no diag-
nostic test for PD and no way 

continued on page 52

LeWitt

Heath

RUTHAN BRODSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ISTOCK

Parkinson’s 
Link

Ashkenazi Jews linked through gene 
mutations; researchers seek patients.

 

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