α-synuclein locus duplication as a cause of familial Parkinson's disease

Genomic triplication of the alpha-synuclein gene (SNCA) has been reported to cause hereditary early-onset parkinsonism with dementia. These findings prompted us to screen for multiplication of the SNCA locus in nine families in whom parkinsonism segregates as an autosomal dominant trait. One kindred was identified with SNCA duplication by semiquantitative PCR and confirmed by fluorescent in-situ hybridisation analysis in peripheral leucocytes. By contrast with SNCA triplication families, the clinical phenotype of SNCA duplication closely resembles idiopathic Parkinson's disease, which has a late age-of-onset, progresses slowly, and in which neither cognitive decline nor dementia are prominent. These findings suggest a direct relation between SNCA gene dosage and disease progression.