Open AccessDiscordance in monozygotic Parkinson's disease twins – continuum or dichotomy?
Author(s) -
Balck Alexander,
Borsche Max,
Kasten Meike,
Lohmann Katja,
Seibler Philip,
Brüggemann Norbert,
Klein Christine
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
annals of clinical and translational neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.824
H-Index - 42
ISSN - 2328-9503
DOI - 10.1002/acn3.775
Subject(s) - medicine , disease , monozygotic twin , parkinson's disease , pathology , genetics , biology
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.