Grant: Summer Program in Aging

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease associated with the loss of dopaminergic neurons in a specific region of the brain. Dopaminergic neurons play an important role in voluntary movements and other behaviours. The symptoms include problems with movement and with memory. The exact cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, but evidence suggests an interaction between environmental and genetic factors. One gene that could potentially be involved is the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene. This gene is responsible for the synthesis of the BDNF protein which is involved in the survival of dopaminergic neurons. Some variations of the gene are linked to reduced production of BDNF. Therefore, these gene variants may play a role in the loss of dopaminergic neurons associated with Parkinson's disease. The goal of this study is to assess the relationship between the different variants of the BDNF gene and the occurrence of Parkinson's disease in a Canadian population. A cohort of 30,097 Canadians taking part in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging will be studied.