Can genetic testing be helpful in diagnosing Parkinson’s disease and determining the condition?

  Although genetic studies in recent years have identified causative genes and mutations in these associated genes have been found to be associated with levodopa-sensitive Parkinson’s syndrome. However, the vast majority of PD is sporadic and the exact cause of sporadic PD is still unknown. Genetic factors, environmental factors, ageing, and oxidative stress may all be involved in the degenerative death process of Parkinson’s dopaminergic neurons. Therefore, genetic testing is largely not used clinically to diagnose Parkinson’s disease and does not provide a clear indication of the condition. However, genetic studies have greatly contributed to the understanding of the mechanism of PD and will certainly help people find new means to diagnose and treat PD. It is hoped that in the future, genetic testing will lead to early detection of Parkinson’s disease patients, and will be able to determine the disease and prognosis and guide treatment.