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AAIC 2021 | The future of gene targeting in treating Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are genetically different. Whilst there are some rare causative variants that are associated with familial onset, AD mostly has common variants which have little influence individually, so are difficult to use as targets for treatment. In contrast to this, PD has more causative genetic factors that could be directly targeted in treatment. Konstantin Senkevich, MD, PhD of the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, Canada, talks on trialing drugs that target the two most common mutated genes in PD. Multiple agents are under investigation that target the mutated GBA, prevalent in 5-20% of PD patients and LRRK, which is the second most common variable gene in PD and has the potential to be a viable drug target. This interview took place during the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC), 2021.