Does Parkinson’s Disease Run in Families? Exploring the Genetic Risk

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurologic condition that typically starts later in life. It affects nerve cells in a part of your brain called the substantia nigra. As cells in this region become damaged, they lose the ability to produce a chemical called dopamine.​​ 

Dopamine is one of many neurotransmitters involved in coordinating muscle movement. Scientists believe that between 60% and 80% of dopamine-producing cells are lost by the time symptoms appear.

If you or someone in your family has been diagnosed with PD, you may be wondering if the condition is genetic. While some research suggests that it’s partly caused by genetics, scientists are still learning about other things that cause PD. 

Is Parkinson’s disease genetic?

About 15% of people with PD have a family member with the condition. And people with a close relative who has PD are more likely to get it. But this doesn’t necessarily mean the condition is inherited.

Researchers are still trying to figure out what role genetic mutations play in PD. Changes in the following genes have been linked to the condition:

• SNCA makes a protein primarily found in your brain

• PARK2 helps to clean up cell damage 

• PARK7 protects brain cells from stress

• PINK1 makes a protein that protect different cells throughout your body

• LRRK2 makes a protein that helps build cells, and over 100 LRRK2 gene mutations have been found in families with PD

• PRKN makes a protein called parkin, which helps break down other proteins

• GBA (glucocerebrosidase-beta) makes an enzyme that helps balance certain fats in your body, and between 5% and 15% of people with PD have mutations of this gene

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• Can coffee reduce your risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD)? There’s interesting research suggesting that people who drink coffee may be less likely to develop PD.

• Early signs of Parkinson’s disease: Most people associated PD with hand tremors. But many of the early symptoms of PD are more subtle.

• How do you diagnose Parkinson’s disease? There’s no single test to diagnose PD. For many, diagnosis requires time and multiple types of tests.

Even if you have a gene mutation related to PD, it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll develop the condition. Most people with PD have no known family history. Scientists think that both your genes and environment affect your risk of developing this condition.

What causes Parkinson’s disease?

Experts know that Parkinson’s disease is caused by the death of specific cells in the brain. But they still don’t know exactly what causes this process to start. Several of the working theories are related to genetic mutations:

• PD may sometimes run in families due to rare genetic changes. In other cases, people may have a higher risk because of a combination of different genes.

• When mitochondria (a cell’s energy source) aren’t functioning as they should, the cell becomes damaged. Mutations in certain genes can alter mitochondrial function in the affected brain cells.

• An overactive immune system may lead to inflammatory problems in brain cells, which may trigger PD. This may also be caused by some gene mutations.

There are other theories — beyond genetics — about the causes of PD. Some scientists think it may be due to a buildup of a protein found in the brain, which can disrupt normal cell function. It’s also possible that this protein buildup can spread between cells in your gut and brain. This might be why some early signs of PD take place in the gut. 

What are the risk factors for Parkinson’s disease?

Even though researchers are still trying to figure out what causes PD, they have observed some risk factors. This means these traits and exposures are more common in people with the condition.

Most risk factors for PD are out of someone’s control. These include:

• Genetics: If a close relative (a parent or sibling) has PD, you’re twice as likely to develop the condition compared to someone without a family history of PD.

• Advanced age: The average age of onset is between 60 and 70 years. The risk of PD continues to increase as people age.

• Sex: PD is more common in men, who are 1.5 times more likely to develop PD than women.

• Environmental exposures: Some pesticides, toxins, and pollutants are associated with PD. For example, insecticides that contain permethrin have been associated with PD. And PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) have been found in the brains of people with PD. 

Can you prevent Parkinson’s disease?

Since scientists still don’t know exactly what causes PD, there’s no known way to prevent it. But research suggests that certain lifestyle changes can help slow the progression of the condition: 

• Exercising 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week, may slow the progression of PD.

• A diet full of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds may also help. Scientists suspect the Mediterranean diet may be most helpful.

• Caffeinated drinks like coffee may delay signs and symptoms of PD, but research on this relationship is ongoing.

If you’re concerned about your risk for developing PD — or you think you may have some of the early signs of the condition — don’t worry alone. Talk to your primary care provider about your concerns about a possible PD diagnosis. 

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Written by:

Alexandria Nyembwe, PhD, MBA, RN

Alexandria Nyembwe has been a registered nurse since 2017. She has a background in cardiac care and has clinic experience as a nurse, serving people experiencing housing instability.

Edited by:

Katie E. Golden, MD

Katie E. Golden, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and a medical editor at GoodRx.

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