Researchers have unveiled a revolutionary blood test that could predict Parkinson’s disease up to seven years before the onset of symptoms.
This new test, which utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) and proteomics, promises to transform early diagnosis and intervention strategies for the neurodegenerative disorder.
The Need for Early Detection
Parkinson’s disease is the world’s fastest-growing neurodegenerative condition, affecting around 1 million people in the US and more than 10 million people worldwide. Currently, diagnosis is primarily based on the presence of motor symptoms, by which time significant neuronal damage has already occurred. Early detection is crucial as it opens the door for early intervention, potentially slowing the progression of the disease.
The Breakthrough Study
The study, published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, was conducted by a team of scientists from University College London (UCL) and the University of Göttingen.
To develop this innovative test, the researchers first identified eight proteins that are indicative of early Parkinson’s disease. These proteins are:
Granulin precursor (GRN): Associated with inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.
Mannan-binding lectin serine peptidase 2 (MASP2): Plays a role in immune response and inflammation.
Endoplasmic reticulum chaperone BiP (HSPA5): Involved in protein folding and stress response within cells.
Prostaglandin-H2 D-isomerase (PTGDS): Linked to inflammatory processes and known as a marker for cerebrospinal fluid leaks.
Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1): Important for inflammatory responses and immune cell interactions.
Complement C3 (C3): A key component of the immune system that enhances the ability to clear microbes and damaged cells.
Dickkopf WNT signaling pathway inhibitor 3 (DKK3): Involved in regulating cellular processes and has neuroprotective roles.
Plasma protease C1 inhibitor (SERPING1): Regulates inflammatory pathways and is implicated in neurodegenerative conditions.
The AI algorithm was trained using blood samples from three groups: individuals recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, people with isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (a precursor condition to Parkinson’s), and healthy controls. Remarkably, the algorithm could accurately predict Parkinson’s disease in patients up to seven years before motor symptoms appeared.
Co-first-author Dr Michael Bartl (University Medical Center Goettingen) who conducted the research from the clinical side alongside Dr Jenny Hällqvist (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health), said: “By determining 8 proteins in the blood, we can identify potential Parkinson’s patients several years in advance. This means that drug therapies could potentially be given at an earlier stage, which could possibly slow down disease progression or even prevent it from occurring.
“We have not only developed a test, but can diagnose the disease based on markers that are directly linked to processes such as inflammation and degradation of non-functional proteins. So these markers represent possible targets for new drug treatments.”
Implications for Parkinson’s Research and Treatment
If validated in larger and more diverse populations, this blood test could become a routine part of health screenings, especially for those with a family history of Parkinson’s or other risk factors. It could be available for use in NHS laboratories within two years, making it accessible to a broad population.
Senior author, Professor Kevin Mills (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health), said: “As new therapies become available to treat Parkinson’s, we need to diagnose patients before they have developed the symptoms. We cannot regrow our brain cells and therefore we need to protect those that we have.
“At present we are shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted and we need to start experimental treatments before patients develop symptoms. Therefore, we set out to use state-of-the-art technology to find new and better biomarkers for Parkinson’s disease and develop them into a test that we can translate into any large NHS laboratory. With sufficient funding, we hope that this may be possible within two years.”
Conclusion
The development of an AI-enhanced blood test for early detection of Parkinson’s disease marks a significant milestone in medical research. As further validation and trials continue, this innovative approach holds the promise of transforming how Parkinson’s disease is diagnosed and treated, offering hope to millions of people worldwide.
Citation:
Hällqvist, J., Bartl, M., Dakna, M. et al. Plasma proteomics identify biomarkers predicting Parkinson’s disease up to 7 years before symptom onset. Nat Commun 15, 4759 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-48961-3
