Breaking Research News
Biomarkers: A New Chapter in PD Research and Future Treatments
A break through research study evaluating the diagnostic tools α-synuclein seed amplification assays (SAAs) to measure the biomarker abnormal alpha-synuclein has found potential to separate people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) from individuals without PD. Alpha-synuclein is a protein normally found in the nervous system. Abnormal Alpha-synuclein clumps and damages neurons and has been believed to be a contributing factor to development of PD.
Spinal fluid samples were taken for the SAAs tool to assess Alpha-synuclein and accurately predicted 93% of study participants with PD having abnormal results. These findings provide opportunity for PD to become an objectively diagnosed disease which provides new options towards early detection, improved drug development and focused treatments. This study was led by the Michael. J. Fox Foundation through the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI).
Links to Resources:
Study: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(23)00109-6/fulltext