New hope in diagnosis of Parkinson’s

SCIENTISTS are a step closer to developing a test for early-stage Parkinson’s disease.

A molecule linked to the brain condition can be detected in spinal fluid.

The discovery may now pave the way for earlier diagnosis, improving prospects for treatment.

Parkinson’s disease causes the progressive loss of neurons involved in movement, leading to uncontrollable tremors, rigid muscles and poor balance.

The key substance is a protein called alpha-synuclein.

Harmful versions of it form sticky clumps in the brain cells of people with Parkinson’s and some types of dementia.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh are now able to differentiate between healthy and harmful forms of the protein.

In early studies the technique accurately identified 19 out of 20 samples taken from the spinal fluid of people with Parkinson’s.

Dr Alison Green, from the university, said: “We have already used this technique to develop a test for CreutzfeldtJakob Disease, another neurodegenerative condition. We hope that with further refinement our approach will help improve diagnosis for Parkinson’s patients.”

Dr Beckie Port, from the charity Parkinson’s UK, said: “The fact researchers have developed a new test that is able to detect abnormal alpha-synuclein in the spinal fluid of people with Parkinson’s, with remarkable specificity, is hugely promising.

“This could be a significant development towards a future early diagnostic test.”

The findings are published in the journal Annals Of Clinical And Translational Neurology.

Around 127,000 people in the UK have Parkinson’s disease.