Despite these limitations, our study is the first to provide evidence that festination is associated with
SNCA polymorphism at rs11931074 or rs894278.
The
SNCA gene is located on human chromosome 4 and encodes the protein alpha-synuclein.
The relationship between [alpha]-synuclein and PD was established with the identification of specific mutations in the
SNCA gene encoding for [alpha]-synuclein, in families with PD.
Although several genes have been related to the development of nonmotor signs of PD in humans (e.g.,
SNCA, LRRK2, VPS35, and Parkin), only a few studies have explored the influence of these mutations on depressive-like behavior in mice [62].
Nineteen years ago, the discovery of the first genetic mutation responsible for Parkinson's disease (PD), p.A53T in the [alpha]-synuclein (
SNCA) gene [1], provided the initial insights into the molecular genetics of PD.