Researchers have developed a simple and cost-effective blood test capable of detecting Parkinson’s disease years before symptoms appear.

Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have created a groundbreaking blood test that can identify Parkinson’s disease (PD) in its earliest stages, long before physical symptoms emerge.

The researchers leading the study stated that the test could revolutionize early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, paving the way for timely interventions and improved patient outcomes.

WHAT IS PARKINSON’S? WHAT DOES THE TEST TARGET?

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition where nerve cells in the brain degenerate over time, leading to a reduction in the dopamine chemical that plays a crucial role in motor control.

This new test, reported to cost 80 pounds by The Times, focuses on analyzing small genetic material fragments known as transfer RNA pieces in the blood, which accumulate in Parkinson’s patients due to a repetitive RNA sequence.

Additionally, it also examines the parallel decline in mitochondrial RNA as the disease progresses. Mitochondria are found inside cells and produce energy.

UTILIZING PCR TECHNOLOGY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Researchers highlighted that by measuring the ratio of these biomarkers, the test offers an extremely accurate, non-invasive, rapid, and affordable diagnostic tool, providing hope for early interventions and treatments that could alter the course of the disease.

According to The Times, on a scale where a score of 1 indicates an excellent test and 0.5 indicates that the test is no better than flipping a coin, the test received a score of 0.86.

Published in the journal Nature Aging, the study revealed that the best clinical tests currently used on patients showing early signs of the disease scored 0.73.

The test utilizes the same PCR technology used to confirm COVID-19 cases during the pandemic. This technology amplifies the targeted genetic material for detection.

“WE HAVE OPENED A NEW WINDOW” Head of the study, Prof Hermona Soreq from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said, “This discovery represents a significant advancement in our understanding of Parkinson’s disease and provides a simple, minimally invasive blood test as a tool for early diagnosis. By focusing on tRFs, we have opened a new window into molecular changes occurring in the earliest stages of the disease.” Meanwhile, Parkinson’s UK research director Prof David Dexter stated, “This research represents a new angle to be explored in the quest for a biological marker for Parkinson’s. The fact that the marker can be identified and measured in the blood makes it an attractive candidate for a future patient-friendly diagnostic test for Parkinson’s.” Dexter added, “Continuing to test and validate this potential test requires further research, especially to understand how it can differentiate from other conditions with early signs similar to Parkinson’s.” The study was conducted under the supervision of Prof Soreq at the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences and the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences at the Hebrew University, in collaboration with Dr Iddo Paldor from Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Dr Eyal Soreq from the University of Surrey and Imperial College London, with the participation of doctoral student Nimrod Madrer.