To test the hypothesis that variability in SNCA Rep1, a polymorphic dinucleotide microsatellite in the promoter region of the gene encoding α-synuclein, modifies the association between head injury and Parkinson’s disease (PD) risk.

Participants in Farming and Movement Evaluation (FAME) and Study of Environmental Association and Risk of Parkinsonism using Case-Control Historical Interviews (SEARCH), two independent case-control studies, were genotyped for Rep1 and interviewed regarding head injuries with loss of consciousness or concussion prior to PD diagnosis. Logistic regression modeling adjusted for potential confounding variables and tested interaction between Rep1 genotype and head injury.

Consistent with prior reports, relative to medium-length Rep1, short Rep1 genotype was associated with reduced PD risk (pooled odds ratio (OR) 0.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5-0.9), and long Rep1 with increased risk (pooled OR 1.4, 95%CI 0.95-2.2). Overall, head injury was not significantly associated with PD (pooled OR 1.3, 95%CI 0.9-1.8). However, head injury was strongly associated with PD in those with long Rep1 (FAME OR 5.4, 95%CI 1.5-19; SEARCH OR 2.3, 95%CI 0.6-9.2; pooled OR 3.5, 95%CI 1.4-9.2, p-interaction 0.02). Individuals with both head injury and long Rep1 were diagnosed 4.9 years earlier than those with neither risk factor (p = 0.03).

While head injury alone was not associated with PD risk, our data suggest head injury may initiate and/or accelerate neurodegeneration when levels of synuclein are high, as in those with Rep1 expansion. Given the high population frequency of head injury, independent verification of these results is essential.