Are We Getting Closer to Blood Tests for Parkinson Disease?

A pilot study suggests so, despite methodologic issues.

Alpha-synuclein (α-syn) is a protein thought to be important in causing Parkinson disease (PD); it is a critical component in the deposits that accumulate in the Parkinson brain. Researchers conducted a pilot study involving 32 patients with PD and 30 controls to test the use of a blood test of phosphorylated α-syn for detection of PD. In plasma samples taken monthly for 3 months, the researchers measured levels of total, phosphorylated, and oligomeric α-syn in patients and controls.

The testing identified an abnormal phosphorylated form of α-syn in the samples from the PD patients. Over the 3-month period, the levels of α-syn within each patient were stable.

Reviewing Author

Michael S. Okun, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America

Speaker’s BureauMedscape/WebMD CME, Movement Disorders Society CME, American Academy of Neurology CME

RoyaltiesBooks4Patients; Demos; Cambridge; Taylor and Francis; Robert Rose; Public Affairs

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; Parkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America; University of Florida Foundation

Editorial BoardsTremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements; JAMA Neurology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesParkinson’s Foundation (Medical Advisor)