Conjugal parkinsonism – Clinical, pathology and genetic study. No evidence of person-to-person transmission. (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rajput, Ali H.; Ferguson, Leslie W.; Robinson, Christopher A.; Guella, Ilaria; Farrer, Matthew J.; Rajput, Alexander
• Is Part Of: Parkinsonism & related disorders. Volume 31(2016)
• Page Start: 87
• Page End: 90
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: Parkinson syndrome -- Autopsy -- Conjugal -- Transmission -- Environment; Parkinson's disease -- Periodicals; Movement disorders -- Periodicals; Movement Disorders -- Periodicals; Nerve Degeneration -- Periodicals; Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Parkinson Disease -- Periodicals; Tremor -- Periodicals; Parkinson, Maladie de -- Périodiques; Parkinson's disease; 616.833
• DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2016.07.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8020

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Neurodegeneration is known basis of several different Parkinson syndromes. The most common Parkinson syndrome is the Parkinson's disease. Distinction between different Parkinson syndromes is based on pathology or genetic findings. Recent studies indicate that several major variants of PS have some characteristics of a prion disease and may therefore be transmissible. Married couples offer a unique opportunity to study person-to-person transmission and the role of shared environments as the cause of parkinsonism. Methods: Autopsy is offered to patients seen at the Movement Disorders Clinic Saskatchewan at no cost. Five couples seen in our clinic, where each spouse had a clinical diagnosis of parkinsonism, came to autopsy. Results: Median duration of marriage was 42 years before the Parkinson syndrome first manifested in a spouse. Three couples were pathologically or genetically discordant for Parkinson variant. Each spouse in the other two couples had Parkinson's disease. One couple had onset separated by 20 years and one partner had a strong family history of Parkinson's disease. Conclusion: Our data indicate that neither of the Parkinson's disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Multiple System Atrophy are transmitted by sexual or other intimate contact. The data also indicate against shared environments as the cause of these disorders. Highlights: Synucleinopathies and tauopathies have some prion like characteristics. Person-to-person transmission is best studied in married couples. A clinical, pathology and genetic study of five married couples was performed. There was no evidence of sexual or close personal contact as the cause of parkinsonism. Our data do not support a common environmental exposure cause of parkinsonism in the spouses.