Young Onset Parkinson's Disease Subtypes and Pathogenic Mechanisms

Young Onset Parkinson's disease (YOPD) refers to a group of patients in which the disease starts earlier in life (before the age of 50 years) and has a profound impact on most of patient's life. Current knowledge regarding the mechanisms leading to development of Parkinson's disease in younger individuals is lacking, but their understanding is crucial for the successful design of therapeutic strategies and stratifying patients for clinical trials. With this research the investigators aim to clarify the contribution of relevant biological processes in patients with Young onset Parkinson's disease to help understanding disease mechanisms and biomarkers.

Inclusion Criteria: YOPD cohort: 1. Male or female 18 years or older (inclusive) of any race and ethnicity 2. Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) confirmed by a movement disorder specialist and with an age of onset of less than or equal to the age of 50 years old 3. Willingness to undergo a skin punch biopsy LOPD cohort: 1. Male or female 18 years or older (inclusive) of any race and ethnicity 2. Diagnosis of PD confirmed by a movement disorder specialist and with an age of onset after the age of 50 years Healthy Control cohort: 1. Male or female 18 years or older (inclusive) of any race and ethnicity 2. Never been diagnosed with PD as reported by medical history and as assessed by study PI Exclusion Criteria: 1. Diagnosis of atypical parkinsonism (i.e. progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, multiple system atrophy) or secondary parkinsonism (i.e. normal pressure hydrocephalus, drug-induced parkinsonism). 2. Clinical history of autoimmune or chronic inflammatory disorder or exposure to chronic immunosuppressant or immunomodulatory medications. 3. Pregnancy 4. Dermatological conditions that would prevent performing skin punch biopsies