- Duke University researchers said DNA damage in blood cells can serve as an early warning of Parkinson’s disease.
- The scientists also found that genetic biomarkers could be used to monitor the effectiveness of Parkinson’s therapies.
- A simple blood test based on the research could aid in detection and treatment of the disease as well as improve future research.
The identification of a genetic biomarker for Parkinson’s disease raises the possibility that a blood test could be developed to identify the neurological disorder before symptoms appear.
In a study published today in the journal Science Translational Medicine, researchers at Duke University in North Carolina used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology to detect mitochondrial DNA damage in blood cells typically associated with Parkinson’s disease.
The researchers reported that the test was able to detect the damage both in people with genetic mutation LRRK2, a known risk factor for Parkinson’s, and those who did not have the mutation.
The researchers said the findings could provide a pathway to developing a blood test for early detection of the disease.
Duke researchers also found that the PCR-based test could help measure the effectiveness of certain Parkinson’s treatments, such as LRRK2 inhibitors.
“Currently, Parkinson’s disease is diagnosed largely based on clinical symptoms after significant neurological damage has already occurred,” said Laurie Sanders, PhD, a senior study author and an associate professor in the Duke School of Medicine’s departments of neurology and pathology and member of the Duke Center for Neurodegeneration and Neurotherapeutics, in a press statement. “A simple blood test would allow us to diagnose the disease earlier and start therapies sooner.”
“Additionally, a clear-cut diagnosis would accurately identify patients who could participate in drug studies, leading to the development of better treatments and potentially even cures,” she added. “Our hope is…
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