Parkinson’s Study Could Pave Way for Early Detection Test

Summary: Researchers have developed a new method for detecting a molecule linked to Parkinson’s disease from a small sample of spinal fluid.

Source: University of Edinburgh.

A test that can detect Parkinson’s disease in the early stages of the illness has moved a step closer.

Scientists have developed a way of detecting a molecule linked to the condition in samples of spinal fluid from patients.

Experts say that the test needs to be validated with a larger sample group but they are optimistic that it could one day help to improve diagnosis of the disease.

The test detects a protein molecule called alpha-synuclein, which forms sticky clumps called Lewy bodies inside the brain cells of people with Parkinson’s and some types of dementia.

Previous efforts to develop a test for alpha-synuclein have produced inconsistent results because the protein is also found in healthy brains. It is only when the protein clumps together that it causes problems.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh made use of a highly sensitive technology that measures the stickiness of proteins.

The approach – called real-time quaking induced conversion – can detect tiny differences in the properties of proteins in the brain that can mean the difference between disease or not.

In early tests, the technique accurately identified 19 out of 20 samples from patients with Parkinson’s disease, as well as three samples from people considered to be at risk of the condition.

There were no false positives in any of the 15 control samples from healthy people.

The technique also identified patients with a type of dementia caused by Lewy bodies, but not other types of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive brain condition caused by the loss of nerve cells. It is not known what causes the condition and there is currently no accurate test for it. Patients often have to wait years for a diagnosis, which is based on physical symptoms, their medical history and the results of simple mental and physical exercises.

Image shows alpha-synuclein.
The test detects a protein molecule called alpha-synuclein, which forms sticky clumps called Lewy bodies inside the brain cells of people with Parkinson’s and some types of dementia. Neurosciencenews image is for illustrative purposes only.

Dr Alison Green, of the National CJD Research and Surveillance Unit at the University of Edinburgh, said: “We have already used this technique to develop an accurate test for Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease, another neurodegenerative condition. We hope that with further refinement, our approach will help to improve diagnosis for Parkinson’s patients.

“We are also interested in whether it could be used to identify people with Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia in the early stages of their illness. These people could then be given the opportunity to take part in trials of new medicines that may slow, or stop, the progression of disease.”

About this neuroscience research article

Funding: The study was funded by the Chief Scientists Office, Government of Scotland, and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Source: Jen Middleton – University of Edinburgh
Image Source: This NeuroscienceNews.com image is for illustrative purposes only.
Original Research: Full open access research for “Alpha-synuclein RT-QuIC in the CSF of patients with alpha-synucleinopathies” by Graham Fairfoul, Lynne I. McGuire, Suvankar Pal, James W. Ironside, Juliane Neumann, Sharon Christie, Catherine Joachim, Margaret Esiri, Samuel G. Evetts, Michal Rolinski, Fahd Baig, Claudio Ruffmann, Richard Wade-Martins, Michele T. M. Hu, Laura Parkkinen, and Alison J. E. Green in Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. Published online August 28 2016 doi:10.1002/acn3.338

Cite This NeuroscienceNews.com Article

[cbtabs][cbtab title=”MLA”]University of Edinburgh. “Parkinson’s Study Could Pave Way for Eary Detection Test.” NeuroscienceNews. NeuroscienceNews, 29 August 2016.
<https://neurosciencenews.com/parkinsons-detection-test-4924/>.[/cbtab][cbtab title=”APA”]University of Edinburgh. (2016, August 29). Parkinson’s Study Could Pave Way for Eary Detection Test. NeuroscienceNews. Retrieved August 29, 2016 from https://neurosciencenews.com/parkinsons-detection-test-4924/[/cbtab][cbtab title=”Chicago”]University of Edinburgh. “Parkinson’s Study Could Pave Way for Eary Detection Test.” https://neurosciencenews.com/parkinsons-detection-test-4924/ (accessed August 29, 2016).[/cbtab][/cbtabs]


Abstract

Alpha-synuclein RT-QuIC in the CSF of patients with alpha-synucleinopathies

We have developed a novel real-time quaking-induced conversion RT-QuIC-based assay to detect alpha-synuclein aggregation in brain and cerebrospinal fluid from dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease patients. This assay can detect alpha-synuclein aggregation in Dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease cerebrospinal fluid with sensitivities of 92% and 95%, respectively, and with an overall specificity of 100% when compared to Alzheimer and control cerebrospinal fluid. Patients with neuropathologically confirmed tauopathies (progressive supranuclear palsy; corticobasal degeneration) gave negative results. These results suggest that RT-QuiC analysis of cerebrospinal fluid is potentially useful for the early clinical assessment of patients with alpha-synucleinopathies.

“Alpha-synuclein RT-QuIC in the CSF of patients with alpha-synucleinopathies” by Graham Fairfoul, Lynne I. McGuire, Suvankar Pal, James W. Ironside, Juliane Neumann, Sharon Christie, Catherine Joachim, Margaret Esiri, Samuel G. Evetts, Michal Rolinski, Fahd Baig, Claudio Ruffmann, Richard Wade-Martins, Michele T. M. Hu, Laura Parkkinen, and Alison J. E. Green in Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. Published online August 28 2016 doi:10.1002/acn3.338

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