The serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) gene appears to be protective against a high-risk leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) mutation for Parkinson’s disease, 23andMe, a personal genetics company, has discovered.

Of the approximately 1 in 10,000 people who carry a mutation called G2019S on the LRRK2 gene, about half develop Parkinson’s disease. Scripps Research Institute will further investigate the SGK1 gene as a first step toward developing possible treatments for Parkinson’s disease.