Researchers discovered that certain abnormal proteins found in blood can be used to accurately diagnose these diseases through a simple blood test.
Parkinson’s disease and similar disorders are caused by the buildup of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain, leading to the death of nerve cells and various neurological symptoms. Currently, there are no cures for these diseases, and diagnosing them can be a lengthy process, especially in the early stages when it’s difficult to differentiate between them.
Researchers found that these abnormal proteins, known as alpha-synuclein seeds, can also be found in the blood.
By developing a new method called IP/RT-QuIC, they were able to detect tiny amounts of proteins in the blood and amplify them for analysis.
Working together with Luxembourg-based institutions, the researchers used a large database of clinical and brain tissue samples to compare different diseases. The IP/RT-QuIC method successfully detected the alpha-synuclein seeds in the blood of 95% of patients with these diseases.
Importantly, the researchers found that the structure of these proteins varied depending on the specific disease, which was also observed in laboratory models.
These findings suggest that these proteins play a role in the development of these diseases and can be used to improve their diagnosis.
This breakthrough in blood-based testing offers hope for more accurate and efficient diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and related disorders in the future.
The study was published in Nature Medicine.
