Parkinson's disease can be detected through a blood test before symptoms appear.
Scientists from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have identified biomarkers for Parkinson's disease that can be detected in the blood at the earliest stages of the disease — even before pronounced motor symptoms and severe brain damage occur. The study is published in npj Parkinson's Disease.
The research showed that in the early phase of Parkinson's, specific biological processes are activated in the body — DNA damage repair systems and cellular stress response systems. These processes leave a characteristic 'trace' in gene activity that can be captured through blood analysis. Notably, such signals are present only in the early stages of the disease and disappear as it progresses.
Using machine learning methods, the researchers were able to distinguish this molecular profile from both healthy individuals and data from patients with already developed symptoms. This is particularly important, as by the time classical signs of Parkinson's — tremors, rigidity, and movement disorders — appear, a significant portion of neurons is already irreversibly damaged.
The authors of the study believe that in the future, such findings could form the basis for mass screening tests based on blood analysis — an accessible and inexpensive tool for early diagnosis. They estimate that the first clinical trials of such tests in the healthcare system could begin within the next five years, and further research results could also aid in the development of new therapeutic methods aimed at slowing or preventing the progression of the disease.
