Alpha-Synuclein Polymorphisms are Associated with Parkinson's Disease in a Saskatchewan Population

Alpha-synuclein gene (SNCA) mutations cause familial Parkinsonism but the role of SNCA variability in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) remains incompletely defined. We report a study of SNCA genetic variation in 452 idiopathic PD cases and 245 controls. SNCA copy number mutations were not associated with early-onset disease in this population. The minor allele G at rs356165 was associated with increased odds of PD (P = 0.013) and genetic variation in D4S3481. (Rep1) was associated with age of disease onset (P = 0.007). There was a trend toward association between variation at rs2583988 and rapid PD progression. (C) 2009 Movement Disorder Society