Genetic Testing for Parkinson’s Disease: What You Need to Know

Clinical laboratories worldwide currently offer more than 500 unique clinical genetic tests for Parkinson’s, with tests examining anywhere from five to 62 genes, according to a recent study by Alcalay, neurologist Karen Marder, MD, a Parkinson's expert at Columbia and NewYork-Presbyterian, and other colleagues. Many tests include genes whose connection to Parkinson’s is still controversial among scientists.

“This makes it very confusing both for people with Parkinson’s and for providers, because if one company examines five genes and another examines 62, are they offering the same product? Is the result the same, and what do you do with it?” Marder says. [read more]

Source: CUIMC Newsroom