Discordance in monozygotic Parkinson's disease twins – continuum or dichotomy?

Abstract Differences in concordance rates between monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs with Parkinson's disease (PD) have been used to estimate genetic influences in PD pathogenesis. We hypothesized that “discordance” may not in all cases adequately reflect the multifaceted disease manifestatio...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alexander Balck, Max Borsche, Meike Kasten, Katja Lohmann, Philip Seibler, Norbert Brüggemann, Christine Klein
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-06-01
Series:Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/acn3.775
Description
Summary:Abstract Differences in concordance rates between monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs with Parkinson's disease (PD) have been used to estimate genetic influences in PD pathogenesis. We hypothesized that “discordance” may not in all cases adequately reflect the multifaceted disease manifestation of PD that involves a continuum from prodromal to definite PD. Deep clinical phenotyping, combining motor, nonmotor, and imaging modalities in five monozygotic, seemingly discordant twin pairs revealed motor and/or nonmotor features and/or nigral hyperechogenicity in all of the five putatively unaffected twins. In conclusion, our data suggest that concordance rates in monozygotic twins may be higher than previously appreciated.
ISSN:2328-9503