Comparison of Clinical, Imaging, Electrophysiological, and Genetic Biomarkers of Motor and Non-motor features of Young versus Late onset Parkinson’s Disease: A Longitudinal Disease Progression Study of 1000-Parkinson Disease Cohort from India (YLOPD Biomarker Study)

Partner Institute

National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences.

The study aims to provide a better understanding of the complex interplay of genetic, molecular, and environmental interactions as causation factors for both young and late onset Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Results from this study will not only help in examining the different causation factors for both forms of PD but also aid in developing improved prognostic measures against the disease.

To achieve the study objectives, longitudinal follow up of PD patients, with detailed neurological and neuropsychological evaluation will be undertaken. In parallel, studies on mouse models will aid in understanding the molecular underpinnings of motor and non-motor symptoms of PD. So far, 180 samples from the total target of 1000 have been collected and processed for DNA extraction. Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) analysis has been completed for 98 of these samples and another 96 samples are currently being processed for NGS and GWAS.

The clinical components of the YLOPD study are managed by NIMHANS. The broad objectives of this cohort are to gather data on clinical and genetic. neuroimaging and neurophysiological characterization of a large Indian young onset PD (YOPD, age at onset ≤45 years) and late onset PD (LOPD; age at onset greater than 45 years) and to identify probable biomarkers for early detection, monitoring progression (over 5 years), prognostication of disease and response to different medical and surgical therapeutic strategies.