Calling All Parkinson's Patients: Genome Study Sponsored by Google Co-Founder

Google co-founder Sergey Brin and 23andMe, co-founded by his wife Ann Wojcocki, are joining forces with the Parkinson’s Institute in California, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation in New York, to search for common genes that may lead Parkinson’s or may help to determine a patients’ potential response to drugs. Parkinson’s affects 1 million people in North America, 4 million around the world, and so many more when you consider the families involved.

23andMe, a personal genomics services company, is hoping to use the Internet to speed up the process of gaining new knowledge  about Parkinson’s and ways to treat the condition, according to Mrs. Wojcocki. The company currently allows customers to purchase a high density, custom genome scan for $399 from their online store. The company furnishes the kit and the customers provide the saliva, sending the kit back fro processing. Then the company’s CLIA-certified lab will analyze the DNA (taking approximately 10 weeks) after which the customers are able to log onto the company's site and take a look into their genome.

Customers are provided data on 106 traits and diseases and information on their ancestry, which is compared to the current global population and the 23andMe community, determining what customers have in common with others in the 23andMe community, as well as what is unique. Customers are also given the opportunity to complete online surveys that help to gather very significant scientific data. The new Parkinson’s study will allow customer of 23andMe to participate, as well as others, who will gain the same benefits as 23andMe customers by their participation in the Parkinson’s study, and be notified of their gene make-up and discoveries based on their provided DNA.

In hopes of gaining 10,000 participants for Parkinson’s research, the two charities are allowing 23andMe to invite their members to be involved in the experiment. Signing up on their website before March 22nd will cut the cost of the genetic testing by more than $300. The company will provide “spit kit” to Parkinson's participants. They will spit into a tube, as they would for the other genome testing, and send it back to the company for examination. The participants will also be asked to complete online surveys on symptoms, history, medications, and their disease progression. Parkinson’s patients are being recruited through the Parkinson’s Institute, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Parkinson’s can lead to very debilitating conditions. Many people will notice trembling or shaking of their hands or other body parts with the loss of control of their body’s movements. Currently, the causes of Parkinson’s are scarcely understood, with only a few genes being linked to increase risks. Through the new experiment, the teams are hoping to uncover other gene’s that may lead to the condition as well as determine possible triggers.

Co-Founder of Google, Sergey Brin’s mother currently suffers with Parkinson’s and recently he has discovered that he also carry’s a gene variant that increases his odds of developing the condition, which makes the research endeavor a little more personal. He is the main financial contributor to the new study which will help to reduce the cost of participating to only $25. While some may wonder why they would charge participants in a research study, Mrs. Wojcicki says that by charging a minimal fee they will hopefully recruit patients who are truly committed to helping with the research and follow through with their needed participation in the study. Mr. Brin said, “We can make a significant progress in understanding Parkinson’s disease if individuals join together and contribute their personal experiences to scientific research. Individually, our genes and experiences are lost in a sea of statistical noise. But, taken together they become a high power lens on our inner workings.”

Through the internet, patients may be very beneficial to Parkinson’s research and may even help to determine key factors and treatments. The new endeavor may be the first of many to come. During this study, 23andMe and its partners hope to learn of any new gene variants or environmental factors that may lead to, or make the odds greater, of developing the condition. The company will publish all discoveries and allow access to other researchers. The company hopes to conduct similar studies for other diseases.