New Blood Test to Predict Onset of Parkinson’s Disease

Researchers from University of Lancaster in England have come out with a new blood test which they claim can detect Parkinson’s disease a long time before the symptoms begin to appear.

The test was developed by David Allsop and his colleagues who identified a substance known as phosphorylated alpha-synuclein which is present in the blood.

Parkinson’s Disease - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease caused by progressive dopamine brain cells loss. Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are correctable to an extent.

The researchers have developed a way of identifying the presence of this substance and said that it is common among Parkinson’s patients.

“A blood test for Parkinson's disease would mean you could find out if a person was in danger of getting the disease, before the symptoms started. This would help the development of medicines that could protect the brain, which would be better for the quality of life and future health of older people”, Allsop said in his report which will be published in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

Parkinson's Disease
Slide animation on Parkinson disease. It is a progressive movement disorder due to degeneration of nerve cells of the substantia nigra of the brain. The symptoms get worse with time but drugs or surgery can control them. PD cannot be cured.

Source-Medindia

Parkinson's Disease - Surgical Treatment
Slide animation on surgery for Parkinson disease. Surgery is only indicated where drugs fail to control the symptoms of this progressive movement disorder. Surgery cannot cure the disease.

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