Blood test could identify early warning signs of Parkinson’s, research suggests
Fox News • • health
Key Points:
- Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology and Oslo University Hospital have identified blood biomarkers that may detect Parkinson’s disease up to 20 years before motor symptoms appear, linked to early DNA repair and cellular stress changes.
- Using machine learning, the team found unique gene activity patterns in early-stage Parkinson’s patients that are absent in healthy individuals and those with advanced disease, offering a potential window for early diagnosis and treatment.
- The study, published in npj Parkinson’s Disease, suggests blood tests could become a cost-effective and accessible screening tool within five years, potentially enabling earlier intervention to slow or prevent serious brain damage.
- Limitations include partial correlation between blood gene activity and brain changes, possible external influences like medication, and a study population
