Sergey Brin, one of the co-founders of Google, has revealed that he has a genetic mutation which increases his chances of contracting Parkinson’s disease.

Writing on a personal blog that was launched yesterday, Mr Brin, 35, said he made the discovery following a genetic test.

He wrote: “The exact implications of this are not entirely clear,” but added: “Nonetheless it is clear that I have a markedly higher chance of developing Parkinson's in my lifetime than the average person.”

Parkinson’s diseases is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that impair functions such as speech and movement. Mr Brin said that studies have shown that his likelihood of contracting Parkinson’s disease in his lifetime may be 20 percent to 80 percent.

Mr Brin made the discovery through the DNA company 23andMe, a firm that his wife co-founded. Google invested almost $4m in the company last year.

The test showed that he had a gene mutation - G2019S - that is tied to Parkinson’s disease.

“This leaves me in a rather unique position,” wrote Mr Brin. “I know early in my life something I am substantially predisposed to. I now have the opportunity to adjust my life to reduce those odds”

Mr Brin’s mother, Eugenia, also carries the gene mutation and has Parkinson’s, but the disease is not hereditary.

Mr Brin, whose personal fortune is thought to be worth $15.9 billion, said he may now provide more funding for research into the Parkinson’s.

Analysts said they did not believe that the revelations about Mr Brin would impact on Google’s share price.

Mr Brin’s openness on his new blog has exposed his private life in a way that has not been seen before. He concluded on his blog:

“I feel fortunate to be in this position. Until the fountain of youth is discovered, all of us will have some conditions in our old age only we don't know what they will be. I have a better guess than almost anyone else for what ills may be mine - and I have decades to prepare for it.”

The company that made the discovery, 23andMe, opened for business in Britain earlier this year, inviting customers to pay $1,000 (£510) to send a sample of their saliva to California to learn about which diseases they are likely to contract when they get older.

The company then creates a genetic profile identifying similarities between the customer's genes and those associated with about a dozen diseases and conditions, including Parkinson’s, breast cancer, Crohn's disease, and lactose intolerance.

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