Scientists have developed a new technique that could aid in diagnosing Parkinson's disease before symptoms appear, accelerating the search for a cure. Diagnosing Parkinson's disease is challenging because there is currently no specific test for the condition. Symptoms vary and overlap with many other diseases, often leading to misdiagnosis.
American scientists say they have found a way to identify the accumulation of abnormal proteins associated with the disease long before the emergence of symptoms. The results of their research have been published in the journal The Lancet Neurology.
The research confirms that the method, known as the alpha-synuclein seed amplification assay (alphaSyn-SAA), can accurately identify individuals at risk of developing the disease. These results could pave the way for early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Andrew Siderowf from the University of Pennsylvania's medical school explained that "identifying an effective biological marker for Parkinson's disease could have profound implications for how we manage the condition."
Parkinson's disease results from the accumulation of abnormal proteins known as alpha-synuclein throughout the brain and nervous system. This buildup is believed to occur years before physical symptoms like tremors, slowness of movement, or muscle stiffness appear.
The study involved 1,123 participants, making it one of the largest studies to date evaluating the utility of the alphaSyn-SAA technique. The study confirmed that this technique can not only accurately detect those with Parkinson’s disease but also suggested it may be capable of identifying at-risk individuals and those experiencing early non-motor symptoms before diagnosis.
Globally, the prevalence of these cases has doubled in the past 25 years, with up to 10 million people affected by Parkinson's disease.
