Patient's perception: shorter and more severe prodromal phase in GBA-associated PD

Background: Prevalence and time of occurrence of prodromal symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) in relation to the onset of classical motor manifestation varies between patients. Possible modifying factors might be different genetic architectures predisposing to varying burden of manifestations.

Objectives: To characterize the prodromal phase in PD patients with heterozygous mutations in the GBA gene compared to PD patients without GBA mutation.

Methods: In a retrospective design, 151 participants [47 PD patients carrying a GBA mutation (PD_GBA ), 52 idiopathic PD patients (PD_idiopathic ), 52 healthy elderly (CON)] underwent a validated structured interview designed to assess prevalence and time of occurrence of prodromal symptoms.

Results: PD_GBA showed a higher prevalence of prodromal symptoms and almost simultaneous occurrence of non-motor and early motor symptoms shortly before PD diagnosis whereas PD_idiopathic reported a longer prodromal phase starting with non-motor symptoms.

Conclusion: The short and severe prodromal phase in PD_GBA might call for shorter assessment intervals in yet premanifest GBA mutation carriers.