London: Scientists have developed a new blood test that can predict symptoms of Parkinson’s disease up to seven years before they appear.
The disease is characterized by gradual damage to areas of the brain that cause tremors, slow movements, and memory loss.
There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s, but experts believe that early diagnosis can help find treatments that can slow or prevent the disease.
Using artificial intelligence (AI), the test examines eight proteins associated with Parkinson’s disease and predicts the likelihood of a person developing it. Parkinson’s is caused by the death of nerve cells that control movement in the brain. When these nerve cells die or are damaged, they lose their ability to produce the important chemical dopamine.
Today, people with Parkinson’s disease are treated with dopamine replacement therapy to maximize their quality of life.
Professor Kion Molla, senior author of the study from University College London, said that as new treatments for Parkinson’s become available, it is important to diagnose the disease before symptoms appear.
This test works by analyzing eight disease-related proteins found in the blood.
