7 July 2008
Tunis — Tunis, July 7, 2008 -- The July edition of "The Lancet Neurology", one of the world's leading medical journal, has dedicated an article and the magazine's cover page to a joint Tunisian -British-American medical research on the genetic aspects of Parkinson's disease in Tunisia.The article delves in the results published jointly by the team of the Tunisian National Institute of Neurology (INN) led by Professor Faycal Hentati, the team led by Professor Lefkos Middleton in the UK and the team led by Professor Matthew Farrer (USA).
This joint research has made it possible to discover the implication of one sole genetic mutation in half of the Tunisian patients affected by a hereditary form of Parkinson's disease and in 30% of patients affected by an isolated form of this ailment. The implication of this gene is found only in 0,1% to 2% in Asian, European or American populations.
The results of the study open up new scope in terms of genetic counsel, particularly in non -hereditary forms of Parkinson's disease.
They also open new perspectives in the understanding of the mechanisms involved in the appearance of this neurological ailment, as well as new forays of research to identify more efficient therapies.
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neuro-degenerative disease which affects 2% of the world's population aged more than 65. It is characterized by a muscular rigidity, a slowing down of the body's movements and shaking symptoms.
In spite of the fact that this pathology is not hereditary, there are rare hereditary forms (10%) of cases, affecting several members of a same family. The research carried out in Tunisia has shown that consanguinity is one of the main causes of the disease.
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