HEREDITARY PARKINSONS-DISEASE - REPORT ON 3 FAMILIES WITH AUTOSOMAL-DOMINANT INHERITANCE PATTERN

We have studied three families whose ancestors immigrated to North Ame rica from contiguous regions of northern Germany and southern Denmark. The pedigrees contain 77, 206 and 376 individuals spanning 6, 7 and 8 generations with 7,7 and 11 affected members, respectively. Autosomal dominant inheritance pattern is present in two families and probable in the third. Typical L-dopa-responsive parkinsonism with bradykinesia , rigidity, resting tremor, and impaired postural reflexes uniformly d evelop in affected individuals from all three families. Further resear ch on these three families, including genetic, pathologic and clinical examinations is planned.