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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The family members of patients with Parkinsons disease could suffer from neurological impairment themselves. A recent report suggests these relatives could have increased risks for developing dementia or cognitive impairment in their lives.
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn., reveal first-degree relatives of Parkinsons disease patients could face these risks, especially if their relative was diagnosed with Parkinsons at a younger age. Family members of patients who experienced the disease onset at age 66 or younger have a further heightened risk of developing dementia or cognitive impairment.
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Previous studies have not shown this correlation. However, study authors believe these results can help the medical community identify a link between neurological diseases like Parkinsons, Alzheimers and dementia.
The observed associations suggest the action of shared familial susceptibility factors, genetic or non-genetic, study authors wrote.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Archives of Neurology, 2007;64:1458-1464
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