Neuroscience research in The Lancet

Links: - Parkinson's research paper in The Lancet - vCJD research paper in The Lancet - UCL Institute of Neurology - UCL Neuroscience Two high profile research papers from UCL Institute of Neurology scientists have been published this week. Professor Alan Thompson, Director of the UCL Institute of Neurology and Interim Head of UCL Neuroscience domain, said: "These two important studies, both published in The Lancet this week, are a testament to the breadth and significance of neuroscience research at UCL. They demonstrate the potential for basic neuroscience to have a major impact on both the diagnosis and understanding of neurological disorders which can, in turn, result in improved patient care. "One study significantly furthers our understanding of the genetic basis of Parkinson's Disease while the other outlines a prototype blood test for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), which could have a critical role in the diagnosis and screening of this disease. Congratulations to all those involved in the work that has led to the publication of these important research papers." - New Parkinson's genes identified. Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease, affecting >2% of people over the age of 75 years. Most individuals develop the disorder in their 60s and 70s.