The FRAGAMP study: environmental and genetic factors in Parkinson’s disease, methods and clinical features

The Fattori di Rischio Ambientali e Genetici Associati alla Malattia di Parkinson (FRAGAMP) study is a multicenter case–control study carried out to evaluate the possible role of environmental and genetic factors in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Cases and controls were enrolled from five Movement Disorder centers in Central-Southern Italy. PD was diagnosed according to Gelb’s criteria while the control groups consisted of the spouses of the enrolled patients or of healthy controls matched by age and area of residence. Cases and controls underwent a standardised questionnaire and a blood sample was taken for molecular analyses. At the end of the study 585 cases and 481 control subjects (287 spouse-controls and 194 generic-controls) were enrolled. Patients had a Hoehn–Yahr score of 2.3 ± 0.8; 85% of them took levodopa and 47% had motor complications. The FRAGAMP study represents one of the largest case–control studies carried out in Europe to investigate the possible role of environmental and genetic factors in PD.