Unilag, Others Make Breakthrough in Parkinson’s Disease

The University of Lagos Researchers, other research institutions and world medical bodies have partnered in the Global Parkinson’s Genetic Program (GP2) leading to a major breakthrough in Parkinson’s Disease (PD)

The breakthrough uncovered a genetic variations which increases the risk of PD in Africans and African admixed populations.

According to Unilag General News, collaborating in the findings funded by the Michael J Fix Foundation, are Nigerian Parkinson’s Disease Genomics Consortium (IPDGC)-Africa, University College London, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US and 23andMe.

Speaking, Professor of Neurology in the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Professor Njideka Okubadejo, who led the Unilag team expressed that “This GBA1 result is a step toward that future where the research field is prioritizing learning from, and treating all people with Parkinson’s Disease.”

The variant of the GBA1 gene was identified so as to bring about international/ collaborative research in the genetics of PD and institute vibrant treatment for the Africans and African admixed population.

Professor Okubadejo said the Unilag’s research environment played crucial role, adding that the commitment of the national and international partners also ensured the success of the team.

Even though research is essential to find the meaning to exact mechanism of the new variant, the original findings suggest that like prior mutations in GBA1, this variant results in lowered activity of glucocerebrosidase (Gcase) enzyme.

The GP2 is a program of the Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s initiative which launched GP2 in 2019.

GP2 partners with over 140 cohorts over the world, assembling, generating and sharing data to uncover novel insight and similarities on PD.

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