Parkinson’s disease is a complex neurological ailment that is normally diagnosed through clinical evaluation by a neurologist, as well as symptom assessment and, in certain cases, neuroimaging investigations. While researchers have been investigating several biomarkers, including blood-based ones, to aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of Parkinson’s disease, as of my last update, no single conclusive blood marker had been universally accepted.
Is it conceivable for a single biomarker to detect all disorders associated with dopamine insufficiency in the brain? Yes, a study group in Lund has discovered this. “We have observed that an enzyme in cerebrospinal fluid and in blood is a useful marker for identifying all types of Parkinson’s-related diseases with high accuracy,” according to Oskar Hansson, the study’s leader.
Lund University researchers published their findings in the journal Nature Aging.
DOPA decarboxylase (DCC) is the marker in question. DCC was discovered to be higher in people with Parkinson’s disease as well as patients with other disorders that cause dopamine insufficiency in the brain in the current investigation. However, the marker was normal in other brain illnesses such as Alzheimer’s. DCC was shown to be higher in those with Parkinson’s disease years before symptoms appeared, according to the study.
We discovered that if a patient has a dopamine system disorder, levels of the biomarker DDC rise regardless of where they are in the disease’s progression. A significant discovery is that this biomarker can be measured in blood, where it is significantly increased, particularly in Parkinson’s disease.
Oskar Hansson
“We used advanced techniques that allowed us to measure thousands of proteins at the same time in a small amount of sample.” This was done in 428 people to uncover biomarkers that can signal whether a patient with motor abnormalities or cognitive difficulties had impairment to the dopamine system in the brain.”
“We discovered that if a patient has a dopamine system disorder, levels of the biomarker DDC rise regardless of where they are in the disease’s progression. A significant discovery is that this biomarker can be measured in blood, where it is significantly increased, particularly in Parkinson’s disease,” explains Oskar Hansson, a professor of neurology at Lund University and a consultant at Skne University Hospital.
The researchers’ findings were verified in an additional group of 152 individuals. Furthermore, they demonstrated that the new biomarker is also significantly increased in blood by analyzing blood plasma samples from 174 individuals.
PET camera exams can also reveal damage to the brain’s dopamine system. However, this is an extremely expensive and difficult procedure that is only available at specialized memory clinics.
“Because the symptoms of various neurodegenerative brain diseases are similar, there is a significant risk of misdiagnosis and, as a result, improper treatment.” As a result, it is critical to develop safer diagnostic tools and methodologies, which we are focused on in our research. Furthermore, I anticipate that in the future, certain brain disorders will be treated even before symptoms appear, and blood markers will be critical in selecting the correct people in a straightforward and cost-effective manner.”
