A new genetic study may help those looking for ways to avert some of the troubling side effects of a common medication used to treat Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s is sometimes treated with medication that increases dopamine activity in the brain. In some patients that triggers impulsivity, such as compulsive gambling, shopping, eating, or hyper-sexuality.

Impulse Control Disorder

But in a study published in the journal Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, researchers have identified genetic variants in Parkinson’s patients at risk for that problem. Using genetic modeling could help identify patients who are more likely to develop impulse control disorder due to prescribed dopaminergic medications.

Using machine learning and statistical techniques, the team was able to create a risk model to identify those at the highest risk.

In the paper, the researchers suggest that this might ultimately be used to make it easier for physicians treating those with Parkinson’s disease to identify those that should be prescribed an alternative to medication that increases dopamine activity, like levodopa.

You can read more in an article in the 23andMe Blog at: https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/impulse-control-disorder/ while the study itself, is available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acn3.51569.