ABSTRACT
Introduction: There is a considerable inter-individual heterogeneity in clinical features, disease course, and treatment response in Parkinson’s disease (PD), which can be explained not only by disease process and clinical variables, but also by an impact from genetic factors. Evidence-based medicine relies on large randomized control trials and meta-analysis-average medicine, which ignores individual differences. However, we are now in the early phases of a paradigm shift in medicine relating to individuality and variability. The purpose of individualized medicine is to predict patients’ responses to targeted therapy using diagnostic tests based on genetics or other molecular mechanisms, thus providing the right drug at the right dose at the right time.
Areas covered: In this article, we outline current state of individualized medicine for PD.
Expert Commentary: Pharmacogenomics, an important element of individualized medicine, is just beginning to be considered in PD. To advance the clinical use of pharmacogenomics, big data cohort for genomic research and multidisciplinary team approaches are necessary.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
This study was supported by a grant of the Korea Health technology R&D Project, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (A101273). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.