Identification of Novel Genetic Risk Factors of Parkinson' Disease and of Disease Risk in GBA1 Carriers using Data-Intensive Genomic Analyses

Our understanding of Parkinson's disease (PD) genetics significantly improved in the past two decades. ~10% of all patients and 30% of those of Ashkenazi ancestry carry a clear PD genetic risk factor, primarily in the genes called LRRK2 and GBA1.

However only a minority of GBA1 carriers will ever develop PD. In this study, we aim to leverage on cutting-edge and GBA1-PD (Tel Aviv Medical center) and large databases in the PD research community (AMP-PD, GP-2) to further expand our understanding of PD genetics.

Among non-carriers, we will develop a genetic score (polygenic risk score) that would improve prediction of PD (Aim 1), and identify novel genetic risk factors for PD (Aim 2).

Among GBA1 carriers, we will refine prediction of conversion to PD and PD ageat- onset, which would assist the design and execution of PD prevention trials in GBA1 carriers (Aim 3).