Case-Control Study of Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease in Japan

Abstract

The causes of Parkinson's disease (PD) still remain unclear, although a complex interaction in genetic and environmental factors is likely to be associated with the development and progression of the disease. We conducted a hospital-based case-control study named the Fukuoka Kinki Parkinson's Disease Study to examine the associations between risk and preventive factors including genetic factors and the risk of PD in Japan. As preventive factors, we confirmed that smoking habits and caffeine intake reduce the risk of PD. Further, the "Healthy dietary pattern" which was characterized by a high intake of vegetables, seaweed, pulses, mushrooms, fruits, and fish was likely to be associated with a reduced risk of PD. LARK2 Gly2385Arg, MAOB, COMT, SNCA, UCHL1S18Y, PARK16, VDR, APOE SNPs were associated with the risk of PD. There were no associations between GST, BST1, or MDR1 and the risk of PD. In order to establish evidence on various factors for PD in Japanese, further studies with a large number of subjects are needed.