Over 10 million individuals worldwide have Parkinson’s disease.
The diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease may be a difficult task since there is currently no definitive test for it.
Researchers from Lund University in Sweden have discovered a new biomarker that could be used to determine people who have Parkinson’s disease or other related illnesses and even many years before one develops symptoms.
Over 10 million individuals across the globe suffer from the disease Parkinson’s, which is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders that is a trusted source that affects a person’s capacity to move.
Currently, there are no specific lab and imaging tests in use for diagnosing Parkinson’s disease. Doctors can diagnose the condition using any brain scan and the earliest signs. But, this could cause a prognosis to be difficult.
Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have identified a brand-new biomarker trusted source that can be used to detect those suffering from Parkinson’s disease or other related illnesses, even many years before one begins to show symptoms.
The study was published recently by the publication Nature Aging. Trusted Source.
Is a biomarker a marker?
A biomarker, which is short for biological marker, is a medical indicator that aids in the diagnosis of a condition or identifies a physiological state of significance.
Biomarkers can be detected in tissues within the body and urine, bloodTrustedSource and various bodily fluids. They are able to be identified by analyzing the sample. They are also detectable on a molecular or cellular scale, such as studying a person’s genetics.
Biomarkers can also be measured. For example, the individual’s body temperature, blood pressure, and weight are all considered biomarkers of physiological significance because they offer quantifiable “snapshots” of where the body is in relation to health.
There are molecular biomarkers that are trusted sources like the person’s cholesterol levels or the substances that are measured in the form of biopsies.
In recent years, researchers have been focusing on finding biomarkers to identify specific illnesses, including Alzheimer’s disease, Multiple kidney disease, Source Eczema, and depression.
A new biomarker to be used in Parkinson’s and related illnesses
This new study was conducted by Dr. Oskar Hansson — who is a Professor of Neurology at Lund University and a consultant at Skane University Hospital. and the study’s lead author and his team utilized advanced techniques to test the amount of proteins present in samples from 428 individuals.
Of the total number of participants, 347 served as healthy controls. Of the remaining there were 81 people who had lewy body dementia which is a condition that is often seen during Parkinson’s illness.
The researchers found that when a person was diagnosed with an issue with the dopamine system — such as Parkinson’s (PD) — they showed an increased level of a particular protein known as DOPA decarboxylaseTrusted Source (DCC) in their cerebrospinal fluid regardless of their position in the course of their disease.
The researchers validated their findings by examining another group of participants and discovered that the new biomarker significantly increased in their bloodstreams, offering a more reliable screening tool and method.
“This study shows for the first time that the protein DCC is elevated in both cerebrospinal fluid and blood in patients with Parkinsonian disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, progressive supranuclear palsyTrusted Source, and multiple system atrophyTrusted Source,” Dr. Hansson told Medical News Today.
“We even found that the levels were increased before symptom onset and could predict subsequent development of clinical disease,” the researcher said. “That could be important for future clinical trials aiming at evaluating novel therapies that might slow down or halt the disease progression before symptom onset.”
Other biomarkers that are associated with Parkinson’s disease
It’s not the first time a biomarker has been discovered to be connected toTrusted Source to Parkinson’s disease.
A study published in October 2022 showed the existence of ShapeTrusted Source of a class of proteins found in the cerebrospinal fluidTrusted Source could be a Biomarker of Parkinson’s Disease.
The research released in August 2023 examined the use of markers of genetic origin to assess the effectiveness of Parkinson’s treatments.
In July of 2016, researchers released an article that identified an indicator of Parkinson’s disease in the cerebral-spinal fluid and urine samples. Further research conducted in August 2016 revealed a biomarker that could be used that could help monitor the progression of Parkinson’s disease in a non-invasive manner.
” Parkinsonian disordersTrusted Source are often difficult to diagnose accurately based on clinical assessments alone, especially during early disease stages,” Dr. Hansson pointed out when asked why it is important to have biomarkers that can help detect Parkinson’s disease.
“PET imaging of the dopaminergic neurons is often helpful, but it is expensive and requires a complex infrastructure,” the researcher said. “Accurate blood biomarkers in fluids, particularly when they are measured in blood, are far more affordable and flexible. .”
What are the signs that are associated with Parkinson’s disease?
If you have a Parkinson’s, symptoms begin slowly, but they will improve over time. These comprise:
Tremors in the fingers or hands
Inability to balance or coordination
slowed movement
muscle stiffness
bad posture
the loss in smellTrusted Source
sleeping issues
constipation
handwriting gets smaller
the voice becomes soft or is shaken
mood swings
difficulty chewing or difficulty swallowing
dementia.
Although scientists aren’t certain of the cause of Parkinson’s disease, they know that it is caused by the low concentrations of dopamine within the body. This is needed to transmit messages to the region of the brain that is responsible to control movement as well as coordination.
