An accumulation of alpha-synuclein is a major characteristic of Parkinson’s disease, one that is often used to diagnose the condition. Current methods see medical professionals measuring the rate at which alpha-synuclein forms toxic aggregates, which results in more than 80% specificity and 85% sensitivity. The major issue with this technique is the time that it takes. As of now, doctors must wait anywhere from five to thirteen days to receive results. According to Parkinson’s News Today, a team of researchers have developed a faster diagnostic method, one that only takes one to two days, in an effort to solve this problem.
About Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder that affects the central nervous system (CNS). It is characterized by its effect on movement through five different stages. As the disease progresses, severity increases.
- Stage one is characterized by subtle tremors on one side of the body.
- In stage two symptoms are more noticeable, with tremors and rigidity on both sides of the body.
- Stage three brings loss of balance and slowed movement.
- Stage four makes it impossible for one to live independently.
- Stage five is the most severe, as patients cannot stand or walk. Hallucinations and delusions are common symptoms of this stage.
Parkinson’s disease occurs due to the death of motor neurons, some of which produce dopamine. Dopamine is important in the transmittance of messages to the muscles from the brain, so the loss of dopamine results in the loss of motor functions. Abnormal brain activity occurs when these neurons are lost. Doctors do not know why these motor neurons die, but they do suspect a few factors that play a role, such as genetics, environmental factors like toxins, and Lewy bodies.
Improved Testing for Parkinson’s Disease
Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology recently published the study that investigates a new and improved test for Parkinson’s disease. Titled “A rapid a-synuclein seed assay of Parkinson’s disease CSF panel shows high diagnostic accuracy,” this study compared the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 108 Parkinson’s patients with moderate to advanced disease to that of the control group.
In terms of results, 97% of Parkinson’s patients were successfully identified, as was 87% of the control group. This data matches that of a previous study, which is both reassuring and exciting for the researchers.
For the false positives and all but one of the false-negatives, they were previously indicated by current testing methods. According to the researchers involved, these cases had already been misdiagnosed in the past or the sample contained something that altered the outcome of the test. They note that further research with more participants will help to explain these discrepancies.
While it was not related to the point of their study, the researchers also noticed that patients with REM sleep behavior disorder tend to have quicker rate of alpha-synuclein aggregation in their brains. This finding could inspire future research or help medical professionals better understand Parkinson’s.
Looking Forward
This study demonstrates that the new diagnostic method is much faster and just as accurate as old testing techniques. A quicker method helps both doctors and patients, and it also acts as a stepping stone for future research.
