Microarray Genotyping Identifies New Loci Associated with Dementia in Parkinson's Disease

Dementia is one of the most disabling nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the risk factors contributing to its development remain unclear. To investigate genetic variants associated with dementia in PD, we performed microarray genotyping based on a customized platform utilizing variants identified in previous genetic studies. Microarray genotyping was performed in 313 PD patients with dementia, 321 PD patients without dementia, and 635 healthy controls. The primary analysis was performed using a multiple logistic regression model adjusted for age and sex. SNCA single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs11931074 was determined to be most significantly associated with PD (odds ratio = 0.66, 95% confidence interval = 0.56-0.78, p = 7.75 x 10(-7)). In the analysis performed for patients with PD only, MUL1 SNP rs3738128 (odds ratio = 2.52, 95% confidence interval = 1.68-3.79, p = 8.75 x 10(-6)) was found to be most significantly associated with dementia in PD. SNPs in ZHX2 and ERP29 were also associated with dementia in PD. This microarray genomic study identified new loci of MUL1 associated with dementia in PD, suggesting an essential role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the development of dementia in patients with PD.

Automated summary

The study explored genetic variants associated with dementia in Parkinson's disease and identified SNCA, MUL1, ZHX2, and ERP29 as significantly associated genes. This suggests the essential role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the development of dementia in PD patients.