Imagine if you could detect Parkinson’s disease with a simple blood test. Well, researchers have discovered that certain proteins in the blood, called Lewy body-associated proteins, can serve as a biomarker for Parkinson’s disease. These proteins, specifically p-Asyn at ser129, total α-syn, and oligomeric α-syn, were found to be significantly higher in patients with Parkinson’s compared to healthy controls. In fact, when combined together, these plasma biomarkers showed an impressive accuracy of 85.52% in distinguishing Parkinson’s from healthy controls. This finding suggests that a blood test could potentially be used as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for Parkinson’s disease. What’s more, the levels of these proteins did not seem to correlate with the progression of motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s patients. This exciting research opens up new possibilities for early detection and monitoring of Parkinson’s disease using a simple blood test. Want to dive deeper into this groundbreaking study? Check out the full article!
IntroductionTo explore the combined diagnostic value of plasma Lewy body-associated proteins (p-Asyn at ser129, total α-syn, and oligomeric α-syn) for the diagnosis of PD versus healthy controls (HCs) and other PD syndromes (PDs), as well as clinical characteristics prediction.MethodsThis study included 145 participants: 79 patients with PD, 24 patients with PDs, and 42 HCs. A panel of plasma levels of p-Asyn, total α-syn, and oligomeric α-syn was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The primary outcome was the discriminative accuracy of the combined three plasma biomarkers for PD.ResultsThe mean age was 65.43 (SD, 7.467) in the control group, 64.49 (SD, 8.224) in participants with PD, and 69.25 (SD, 7.952) in PDs. The plasma Lewy body-associated protein levels were significantly higher in patients with PD than in age-matched HCs, However, there was no difference in patients with PD and PDs. Of note, a combination of plasma p-Asyn, total α-syn, and oligomeric α-syn was a better biomarker for discriminating PD from HCs, with an AUC of 0.8552 (p < 0.0001, 95%CI, 0.7635–0.9409), which was significantly higher than plasma p-Asyn (ΔAUC, 0.1797), total α-syn (ΔAUC, 0.0891) and oligomeric α-syn (ΔAUC, 0.1592) alone. Meanwhile, Lewy body-associated proteins had no connections between different motor stages and dementia performances.ConclusionOur results suggested that plasma Lewy body-associated proteins, may serve as a non-invasive biomarker to aid the diagnosis of PD from HCs. In addition, increased plasma Lewy body-associated proteins were not associated with the progression of motor and non-motor symptoms.
Dr. David Lowemann, M.Sc, Ph.D., is a co-founder of the Institute for the Future of Human Potential, where he leads the charge in pioneering Self-Enhancement Science for the Success of Society. With a keen interest in exploring the untapped potential of the human mind, Dr. Lowemann has dedicated his career to pushing the boundaries of human capabilities and understanding.
Armed with a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D. in his field, Dr. Lowemann has consistently been at the forefront of research and innovation, delving into ways to optimize human performance, cognition, and overall well-being. His work at the Institute revolves around a profound commitment to harnessing cutting-edge science and technology to help individuals lead more fulfilling and intelligent lives.
Dr. Lowemann’s influence extends to the educational platform BetterSmarter.me, where he shares his insights, findings, and personal development strategies with a broader audience. His ongoing mission is shaping the way we perceive and leverage the vast capacities of the human mind, offering invaluable contributions to society’s overall success and collective well-being.
