Gene Variant Influences Vitamin B6 Metabolism - An international team of doctors and human geneticists has identified a new genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease. The institutions involved in the study were the Institute of Human Genetics of Helmholtz Zentrum Mnchen and Technische Universitt Mnchen, the Neurological Clinic of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitt Munich (LMU) and the Mitochondrial Research Group of Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

"Our study reveals the interaction of genetic and environmental factors such as dietary habits in the pathogenesis of Parkinsons disease,"explained Dr. Matthias Elstner of the Neurological Clinic of LMU andHelmholtz Zentrum Mnchen, lead author of the study. In addition, this genome-wide expression and association study confirms that vitamin B6status and metabolism significantly influence both disease risk and therapy response (Annals of Neurology, January, 2010).

Scientists of the two Munich universities and Helmholtz Zentrum Mnchen investigated neurons in the brain to determine which genes modify their activity in Parkinsons disease. Among other findings, the research group detected increased activity of the pyridoxal kinase gene. In a subsequent international cooperation project, the researchers compared this gene in over 1,200 Parkinson patients with the genetic data of more than 2,800 healthy test subjects. In doing so, they discovered a gene variant which increases the risk for Parkinsons disease and which may lead to a modified quantity or activity of the enzyme pyridoxalkinase (PDXK) in the brain. In combination with genetic association analysis, the innovative method used here single cell expression profiling of dopaminergic neurons opens up new possibilities for analyzing genetic risk factors.

PDXK converts Vitamin B6 from food sources into its physiologically active form, which is the prerequisite for the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine.Parkinsons disease is linked to the accelerated aging and dying off of neurons that produce dopamine. The decreased synthesis of this neurotransmitter explains most of the disease symptoms: The gradual progression of the neurological disease is accompanied by muscle rigor and tremor and a slowing of movement (bradykinesia). Besides the constraints on daily life caused by these symptoms, the postural instability of the body can lead to dangerous falls. Moreover, in the course of the disease sensory symptoms like paresthesia, vegetative disorders (e.g. bladder dysfunction) and depression as well as other psychological changes can occur.

"Our study elucidates how genetic and environmental factors such as dietary habits interact in the pathogenesis of Parkinsons disease, explained Dr. Matthias Elstner of the Neurological Clinic of LMU and Helmholtz Zentrum Mnchen, who is lead author of the study. Dr. Holger Prokisch, head of he research team studying mitochondrial diseases at Helmholtz Zentrum Mnchen and TU Mnchen, added: Although this variant is responsible for only a slight contribution to the overall risk for Parkinsons disease, our findings could aid in developing individualized therapies."

The second World Parkinson Conference is coming very soon.

TheWorld Parkinson Congress will be held in the UK in 2010 and peopleassociated with the disease are being given the chance to get involved.

Inits capacity as one of the five leading sponsors of the World ParkinsonCongress, the Parkinson's Disease Society (PDS) is hoping to inspireindividuals to consider issues much more at only the second congress ofits kind.

Held in Glasgow between September 28th and October1st 2010, the latest scientific discoveries, carers' initiatives andmedical practices related to Parkinson's disease will be discussed bythe leading authorities in the industry.

The event is open toanyone touched by Parkinson's, with neurologists, health professionals,scientists, people with Parkinson's and carers expected to gather toshare knowledge and develop partnerships to identify best practice inorder to further the development of a cure for the condition.

Thisweek, the PDS announced that it is looking for people to join TrekNepal, which it has described as one of the charity's "most excitingfundraising events of 2010".

A hormone produced in the stomach may be used to boost resistance toParkinsons disease because of its protecting action on dopamineneurons.

Parkinsons a degenerative disease of the centralnervous system - develops when dopamine cells die, and reducedproduction of dopamine in late-stage Parkinsons can cause difficultyin walking, restricted or delayed movement, lack of appetite anddifficulty eating, freezing or motionlessness, and head and limbtremors. Researchers from Yale School of Medicine found that ghrelin, ahormone produced in the stomach, is protective of dopamine neurons.

Wealso found that, in addition to its influence on appetite, ghrelin isresponsible for direct activation of the brains dopamine cells.Because the hormone originates from the stomach, it is circulatingnormally in the body, so it could easily be used to boost resistance toParkinsons or it could be used to slow the development of thedisease, said Tamas Horvath, chair and professor of comparativemedicine and professor of neurobiology and obstetrics & gynaecologyat Yale School of Medicine.

Horvath - who studied the actionof ghrelin in mice - suggests the results could easily be translated tohumans because the ghrelin system is preserved through various species.Horvath and his colleagues conducted the study in mice that received aghrelin supplement and those that were deficient in the hormone andreceptor. When compared to control mice, those with impaired ghrelinaction in the brain had a greater loss of dopamine.

Horvathand his team will now try to establish ghrelin levels in both healthyindividuals and Parkinsons patients, and determine whether alteredghrelin levels might be biomarkers of disease development andvulnerability.

Ghrelin is associated with the release of growthhormones, appetite, learning and memory, and reward circuitry for thebrain that regulates food cravings. Recent studies show that body massindex, stored fat and diabetes are linked to Parkinsons, and obesityis a risk factor for neurodegeneration in mice.