Braak stage 1, 100% of pigmented neurons left
parkinsonconnecting

Gene record

GABRA1

gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor subunit alpha1

translation score 0.62, read 2026-10-17; 1 sealed predictions, 0 held; 1 receipts.

Six readers

readerfoundscore
genetics
Open Targets
no genetic evidence; overall 0.32 from other evidence0.00
cell type
Human Protein Atlas
group enriched, including brain excitatory neurons; strongest in retinal bipolar cells0.75
chemistry
Open Targets
compounds already reach it: halazepam, quazepam, thiopental +731.00
trials
ClinicalTrials.gov
no Parkinson's trials on record: an open field1.00
literature
PubMed
4 Parkinson's papers of 4050.79
pathways
Reactome
2 pathways; mostly dopamine synapse1.00
proposal for GABRA1, translation score 0.62

Knock down and overexpress GABRA1 in dopamine neurons; measure evoked dopamine release and dopamine transporter uptake and survival of TH-positive neurons and phospho-α-synuclein (pS129) inclusions after seeding with α-synuclein fibrils.

Cell type
dopamine neurons
Direction
Both arms: public data does not say which way helps; existing compounds already reach the inhibition arm.
Molecular readout
evoked dopamine release and dopamine transporter uptake
Functional readout
survival of TH-positive neurons and phospho-α-synuclein (pS129) inclusions after seeding with α-synuclein fibrils
Rule-out
If neither arm moves evoked dopamine release by 20% or more against non-targeting and empty-vector controls, across three independent differentiations, the hypothesis is wrong.
Lab request
CRISPRi knockdown and lentiviral overexpression of GABRA1 in iPSC-derived midbrain dopamine neurons (FOXA2+, LMX1A+, TH+); n = 3 differentiations; readouts: evoked dopamine release and dopamine transporter uptake; survival of TH-positive neurons and phospho-α-synuclein (pS129) inclusions after seeding with α-synuclein fibrils. Controls: non-targeting guide, empty vector. About 8 to 10 weeks, most of it differentiation.

Sealed predictions

  1. GABRA1 in dopamine neurons, braak+0.54 (p 0.130) → +0.40 (p 0.288)receipt 1082

Swarm cases

receipt 1082: GABRA1 in dopamine neurons, braak

power
full sample +0.52 (p 0.027, n 18), 95% CI +0.07 to +0.79. the interval excludes zero: something may be there, smaller than a half can see.
confounder
adjusted for sex: +0.52 (p 0.027, n 18). holds up.
composition
dopamine neurons share of nuclei vs axis +0.05 (p 0.854); controlling for it: +0.42 (p 0.082, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range +0.45 to +0.61, sign flips 0; without severely affected donors +0.52 (p 0.027, n 18). robust.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for GABRA1 in dopamine neurons.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

Receipts

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