Genetic Characterization of Movement Disorders and Dementias

Objective The objective of this study is to ascertain individuals with a clinical diagnosis of a movement disorder or dementia, their affected and unaffected family members, and unrelated, healthy individuals (to provide control samples); to characterize their phenotypes; and to identify and further characterize genetic contributions to etiology by collecting blood samples, and/or saliva samples on these individuals for DNA and induced Pluripotent stem (iPs) cell line preparation. Study population Up to 10,000 persons with a diagnosis of a movement disorder or dementia, 1,000 asymptomatic persons who are family members/related to individuals with a diagnosis of movement disorder or dementia, and 1,000 unrelated, healthy control individuals. Design This study usually requires one outpatient visit to the NIH Clinical Center. Participant visits may also take place when they are inpatient at the NIH Clinical Center. Those who are unable to travel to NIH may have study procedures performed at a site near their home, such as hospital facilities, private physician offices, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, local community centers, or participant homes. Participants will undergo medical record review, a physical examination and biospecimen collection including blood draw and/or saliva collection at the enrollment visit. Additional visits may be scheduled to collect additional phenotype information or to collect additional biospecimens. Outcome measures The primary outcome measure of this study is the identification of pathogenic genetic variants that are causative or that alter susceptibility/risk for the movement disorder or dementia that the patient has been diagnosed with. These disease-causing variants are often inherited.