New blood test offers hope for early detection of Parkinson's disease

IANS April 12, 2025 294 views

Israeli researchers have developed a groundbreaking blood test that can detect Parkinson's disease long before symptoms appear. The innovative RNA-based test measures specific biomarkers with 86% accuracy, potentially revolutionizing early diagnosis. By identifying molecular changes in the disease's earliest stages, this method offers hope for timely interventions and improved patient outcomes. The research, published in Nature Aging, represents a significant breakthrough in understanding and managing Parkinson's disease.

"This discovery represents a major advancement in our understanding of Parkinson's disease" - Prof. Hermona Soreq
New blood test offers hope for early detection of Parkinson's disease
Jerusalem, April 12: Israeli researchers have developed a new RNA-based blood test for detecting Parkinson's disease long before symptoms emerge.

Key Points

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First non-invasive RNA blood test for early Parkinson's detection

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Test accurately identifies pre-symptomatic patients with 86% precision

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Measures specific mitochondrial and repetitive RNA fragments

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Potential to transform disease diagnosis and treatment strategies

Parkinson's is often diagnosed only after significant brain damage has occurred, when most relevant neurons are already lost, underscoring the need for early detection.

The new method, detailed in the journal Nature Aging, measures specific RNA fragments in the blood, Xinhua news agency reported.

It focuses on two key biomarkers: a repetitive RNA sequence that accumulates in Parkinson's patients, and mitochondrial RNA -- which declines as the disease progresses, said the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU).

By measuring the ratio between these fragments, the test can identify the disease in its early stages.

"This discovery represents a major advancement in our understanding of Parkinson's disease and offers a simple, minimally invasive blood test as a tool for early diagnosis," said Prof. Hermona Soreq from the varsity.

"By focusing on tRFs, we've opened a new window into the molecular changes that occur in the earliest stages of the disease."

In experiments, the test successfully distinguished pre-symptomatic Parkinson's patients from healthy controls with an accuracy of 86 per cent, outperforming current diagnostic methods.

Notably, the study also found that levels of the first type of fragments drop after deep brain stimulation, linking them to disease mechanisms and treatment responses.

The researchers said that this discovery paves the way for early interventions and treatments that could change the course of the disease, potentially improving patient outcomes through timely diagnosis and care.

Lead researcher Nimrod Madrer emphasised the importance of early detection, noting that Parkinson's disease is often diagnosed only after significant brain damage has occurred.

"This test has the potential to alleviate the uncertainty faced by patients and clinicians, offering a reliable and rapid method to identify the disease in its earliest stages," Madrer stated.

Reader Comments

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Sarah K.
This is incredible news! My grandfather suffered from Parkinson's and by the time they caught it, so much damage was done. Early detection could change so many lives. 🙏
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Michael T.
86% accuracy is impressive but I wonder about false positives. Early diagnosis is great but we wouldn't want to cause unnecessary stress if the test isn't perfect. Still, this is promising research!
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Aisha R.
As a neuroscience student, I'm fascinated by how they're using RNA fragments as biomarkers. The brain is so complex but we're making progress! Hope this leads to more breakthroughs.
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James L.
Does anyone know when this might be available to the public? My dad has Parkinson's and I'd like to get tested to know my risks.
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Emma S.
The part about deep brain stimulation affecting the RNA levels is fascinating! Shows how treatments might work at molecular level. Science is amazing!
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David P.
While this is exciting, I hope they'll make it affordable. Too often these medical breakthroughs end up being only for the wealthy. Early detection should be accessible to all.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Parkinson's Disease Medical Research RNA Blood Test Hebrew University Early Detection Neurodegenerative Diseases
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