Comparison of Clinical, Imaging, Electrophysiological, and Genetic Biomarkers of Motor and Non-motor features of Young versus Late onset Parkinson’s Disease: A Longitudinal Disease Progression Study of 1000-PD Cohort from India (YLOPD Biomarker Study)

Funded by Scientific Knowledge for Ageing and Neurological ailments Research Trust (SKAN-RT)

Principal Investigator

Prof Pramod Kumar Pal,
Professor of Neurology
Department of Neurology,
NIMHANS, Bengaluru-29

Need for the study:

1. Patients with Young onset Parkinson disease (YOPD) have characteristic differences in their motor and non-motor symptoms compared to late onset Parkinson disease (LOPD).
2. Patient with YOPD from India has distinct differences compared to results from other ethnicities.
3. The contribution of genetic factors, biochemical factors, environmental factors, and neurodegenerative process in YOPD may be different from LOPD. Studying these factors over course of many years may help understand the multifactorial pathogenesis of YOPD and identify potential biomarker.
4. The underlying genetic architecture of YOPD and LOPD in Indian population is unknown and is distinct from other ethnicities.
5. Hence it is imperative that large, prospective, longitudinal cohort study based on clinical, neurophysiological, neuroimaging, electrophysiological, genetic, and neuro-inflammatory biomarkers of Motor and Non-motor features be performed. The knowledge obtained will ultimately lead to better diagnosis and management of these patients

Statement of the problem:

• Poor understanding of the complex genetic and environmental interactions and their role in causation of YOPD and LOPD
• Lack of biomarkers for early detection of disease or monitoring of disease progression
• Lack of longitudinal studies on disease progression, response to therapy, and prognosis in YOPD compared to LOPD
• Lack of data on biomarkers predicting improvement/response to medical and surgical (Deep Brain Stimulation) treatments in YOPD (therapeutic prognostic biomarkers)
• Limited data on the underlying genetic architecture of YOPD and LOPD from India
• No knowledge on environmental exposure, preventable/modifiable risk factors in India
• Dearth of proper characterization of some unique non-motor symptoms seen in these cohort from India (e.g., depression/ICD/impaired cognition, etc.)

Objectives of the study:

1. Clinical, genetic. neuroimaging and neurophysiological characterization of a large Indian young onset PD (YOPD, age at onset ≤45 years) and late onset PD (LOPD; age at onset > 45 years) cohort
2. Identification of probable biomarkers for early detection, monitoring progression (over 5 years), prognostication of disease and response to different medical and surgical therapeutic strategies

For further information please contact: skanprojects.nimhans@gmail.com