Association of nicotine dependence susceptibility gene, CHRNA5, with Parkinson's disease age at onset: Gene and smoking status interaction

Our preliminary results suggest that the ND risk variant, rs588765, has a protective effect in PD, and is associated with later AAO, but only when the individual was previously exposed to nicotine. This may be explained by modulating the neuroprotective effect of chronic nicotine exposure against striatal dopaminergic damage. Further validation studies in additional populations are required.