An Indian research project examining the genetic factors behind early-onset Parkinson’s disease has received the Best Poster award at the Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2) Annual Conference held in Seoul, South Korea, in October 2026.
The research, led by the Parkinson’s Research Alliance of India (PRAI), focused on understanding the biological mechanisms associated with Parkinson’s disease among younger Indian patients. The recognition came after the study was selected from over 50 submissions centred on genetics.
Titled From Genes to Pathways: Genetic Convergence in Early-Onset Parkinson’s Disease in India, the project analysed genetic information from 668 participants. It explored how different genes linked to early-onset Parkinson’s disease interact through biological processes involving mitochondrial activity, cellular waste removal and communication between nerve cells.
The findings build on PRAI’s GOPI-YOPD initiative, launched in 2024 in partnership with MedGenome. The earlier research was published in the journal Movement Disorders.
The study also draws attention to the need for greater representation of Indian and other South Asian populations in international genetic research, as findings based largely on European ancestry groups may not reflect genetic variations across different communities.
Dr Prashanth LK, Consultant Neurologist and Movement Disorders Specialist and Principal Investigator of GOPI-YOPD, highlighted the importance of investigating the factors influencing Parkinson’s disease in India. He noted that the average age of disease onset in the country is reportedly nearly 10 years earlier than in Western populations.
He added that understanding these genetic patterns could support the development of more targeted treatment approaches.
While the research offers insights into the genetic characteristics of Parkinson’s disease in Indian patients, additional validation will be required before its findings can be translated into clinical applications. The study is currently available as a preprint on medRxiv.
