Australian team develops simple PD (Parkinson's disease) blood test:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Australian researchers from the Howard Florey Institute, in Melbourne, are developing a simple blood test for diagnosing Parkinson's disease (PD) before symptoms appear. The test, which works by measuring levels of the brain-secreted protein alpha-synuclein, is the second PD development to be announced by the group in the last few months. The team has previously said that it is developing a gene-based test for PD (see Clinica No 1252, p 23). The new test has a broader application by screening for many different types of PD, monitoring treatment, and measuring the effectiveness of drugs being developed to treat the condition. It is being trialled in a large-scale study. Funding is also being sought to further develop the test, which the group believes could become available for clinical use within the next two years.