Early Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease and DLB Using CSF Biomarker? (BBC News / Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology)

Summary

Research at the University of Edinburgh indicates that test for synuclein, which measures how sticky this protein molecule has become (i.e. alpha-synuclein aggregation), might be the key to diagnosing accurately the early stages of both Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB).

The technique – called a real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) based assay – has been used previously to test for Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD); but this test is unsuitable for the early detection of other types of dementia including Alzheimer’s Disease.

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Reference

Parkinson’s protein test could lead to earlier diagnosis. London: BBC Health News, August 29^th 2016.

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Reference

Fairfoul, G. McGuire, LI. [and] Pal, S. (2016). Alpha-synuclein RT-QuIC in the CSF of patients with alpha-synucleinopathies. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. August 28^th 2016.