Racial Disparities in Parkinson Disease Clinical Phenotype, Management, and Genetics: Protocol for a Prospective...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Genetics
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Parkinson disease (PD) research is predominantly based on White populations.
• Limited data exists on PD manifestation and progression in Black communities.
• Existing studies suggest Black patients with PD experience greater disability and disease severity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate motor and nonmotor symptoms in Black and White patients with PD.
• To assess quality of life differences between racial groups with PD.
• To explore PD management and genetic risk factors in the Black PD population.

Main Methods:

• Observational, prospective, multicenter, case-case design.
• Recruitment of 400 Black and 200 White participants with PD across 7 US sites.
• Data analysis using linear multivariate regression and chi-square/Fisher exact tests.

Main Results:

• Project approved by Rush Institutional Review Board in February 2022.
• Funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in April 2022.
• 131 participants recruited by the time of manuscript submission.

Conclusions:

• This is the largest study to date on PD phenotype and management in Black patients in the US.
• Planned collaborations will enhance understanding of genetic risk factors in this understudied population.
• Findings may inform strategies to reduce health disparities in PD care.