Category: Parkinson's Disease: Genetics
Objective: To compare progression of motor- and non-motor symptoms in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) with Gaucher-related gene glucocerebrosidase (GBA1) variants compared to people with PD with Parkinson’s-private GBA1 variants (variants not observed in Gaucher’s disease but contributing to a higher risk for PD).
Background: In some GBA1 variants, Gaucher’s disease, a recessive lysosomal storage disorder, is involved in PD pathogenesis. An association of those Gaucher-related GBA1 variants with progression of non-motor symptoms in PD has been reported but the role of Parkinson’s-private GBA1 variants is less clear. Analysis of longitudinal changes in motor- and non-motor symptoms in carriers of Gaucher-related compared to Parkinson’s-private GBA1 variants could elucidate their pathogenic relevance.
Method: We included longitudinal data of 733 people with typical PD. We included 29 carriers of Gaucher-related GBA1 variants (22 and 7 carriers of severe or mild variants, respectively) and 47 carriers of Parkinson’s-private GBA1 variants (PD-risk). A two-level mixed models analysis examined the interaction effect of the categorical variable “carriers of one of the three GBA1 variants” (PD-risk, mild or severe) compared to non-carriers with time since diagnosis on motor- and non-motor symptoms. To facilitate interpretation, scores were inverted to higher values indicate worse outcomes.
Results: Although the findings were not significant after Bonferroni-adjustment (p-value ≤ 0.05/(15 outcomes*3 variants)), compared to non-carriers, carrying PD-risk or severe variants was associated with faster cognitive decline. Carrying Parkinson’s-private PD-risk variants was associated with a more rapid worsening of apathy, quality of sleep, tremor and MDS-UPDRS I compared to non-carriers, while we did not observe this tendency in people with Gaucher-related mild or severe variants. Finally, we observed overall slower progression of carriers of mild variants as compared to carriers of PD-risk or severe variants in non-motor symptoms (except RBD and depression).
Conclusion: The study highlights the association of the Parkinson’s-private variants with disease progression. We cannot confirm general hypotheses of non-motor symptoms progressing faster in Gaucher-related GBA1 variants. Moreover, as progression of mild and severe variants appear to differ, we recommend separate investigation.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
A-M. Hanff, C. Mccrum, A. Rauschenberger, S. Pachchek, G. Aguayo, C. Pauly, S. Jónsdóttir, O. Tsurkalenko, L. Pauly, Z. Landoulsi, A. Leist, P. May, M. Zeegers, R. Krüger. Association of Gaucher-related and Parkinson’s-private GBA1 variants with progression of PD: A longitudinal mixed model analysis. [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2024; 39 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/association-of-gaucher-related-and-parkinsons-private-gba1-variants-with-progression-of-pd-a-longitudinal-mixed-model-analysis/. Accessed October 6, 2024.« Back to 2024 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/association-of-gaucher-related-and-parkinsons-private-gba1-variants-with-progression-of-pd-a-longitudinal-mixed-model-analysis/