A first-of-its-kind blood test might transform how we catch Parkinson’s disease in its earliest stages. This breakthrough could change the way we diagnose and treat the disease. A collaborative effort by a team led by Michael Rosbash at the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences. Led by PhD student Nimrod Madrer and supervised by Prof. Hermona Soreq, they shed light in early detection of the disease before the symptoms begin to show.
The non-invasive test examines subtle pieces of genetic material called transfer RNA fragments (tRFs) that are present in the blood. The researchers zeroed in on one particular type of RNA sequence that tends to build up in people with a clinically diagnosed Parkinson’s disease. Here, a perfect new test scores an extraordinarily high 0.86, with 1 being the best possible test. This impressive outcome is a big improvement over existing clinical tests, which score 0.73. Such a breakthrough could transform early diagnosis and allow clinicians to have access to an accurate, non-invasive, quick, and inexpensive diagnostic method.
The test costs £80 which is relatively low compared to other genetic tests. Currently, over 153,000 people in the UK are living with Parkinson’s. Identification at early stages thus becomes paramount to developing a more effective treatment plan and achieving better patient outcomes.
Professor Soreq emphasized the importance of this finding. It significantly advances our understanding of Parkinson’s disease and presents a convenient, painless, minimally invasive blood test to diagnose the disease at an early stage.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, we carried out this research together with Dr. Iddo Paldor from Shaare Zedek Medical Center. We collaborated with Dr. Eyal Soreq from the University of Surrey and Imperial College London. The journal Nature Aging just recently accepted the results for publication. This represents a huge step forward in the quest for biological markers for Parkinson’s disease.
The director of research at Parkinson’s UK, professor David Dexter, called this Scotland-based research a “watershed study”. “This study is an exciting new direction to pursue in the effort to find a biological marker for Parkinson’s. In this case, the marker can be identified and measured in the blood, which makes it attractive for a future patient-friendly diagnostic test for Parkinson’s.”
The implications of this study are profound. The new blood test provides a more objective and accurate approach to early diagnosis. It paves the way for real-time interventions and improves patient safety. Our researchers are constantly improving this diagnostic tool. We are optimistic that it will greatly improve the quality of life for people who are at risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.