Genetic mutations in Parkinson’s disease: screening of a selected population from North-Eastern Italy

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with a multifactorial pathogenesis. Several genetic variants increase the risk of PD and about 5–10% of cases are monogenic. This study aims to define the genetic bases and clinical features of PD in a cohort of patients from Northeastern Italy, a peculiar geographical area previously not included in genetic screenings. Methods: Using an NGS multigenic panel, 218 PD patients were tested based on age at onset, family history and development of atypical features. Results: A total of 133 genetic variants were found in 103 patients. Monogenic PD was diagnosed in 43 patients (20% of the cohort); 28 (12.8%) carried mutations in GBA1, 10 in LRRK2 (4.6%) and 5 in PRKN (2.3%). In 17% of patients the genetic defect remained of uncertain interpretation. The selection criterion “age of onset < 55 years” was a significant predictor of a positive genetic test (OR 3.8, p 0.0037). GBA1 patients showed more severe symptoms and a higher burden of motor and non-motor complications compared to negative patients (dyskinesias OR 3, sleep disturbances OR 2.8, cognitive deficits OR 3.6; p < 0.05), with greater autonomic dysfunction (COMPASS-31 score 34.1 vs 20.2, p 0.03). Conclusions: Applying simple clinical criteria for genetic testing allows to increase the probability to identify patients with monogenic PD and better allocate resources. This process is critical to widen the understanding of disease mechanisms and to increase the individuation of patients potentially benefitting from future disease-modifying therapies.