The neurodegenerative condition is one of the most common in the world, with around 153,000 people living with Parkinson’s in the UK.
People develop Parkinson’s when they do not have enough of the chemical dopamine in their brain because some of the nerve cells that make it have stopped working.
It is not yet clear why some people develop Parkinson’s but research has suggested it is a combination of age, genetic, and environmental factors.
The main symptoms of Parkinson’s
The main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease affect physical movement:
tremor – shaking, which usually begins in the hand or arm and is more likely to occur when the limb is relaxed and resting slowness of movement (bradykinesia) – physical movements are much slower than normal, which can make everyday tasks difficult and result in a distinctive slow, shuffling walk with very small steps muscle stiffness (rigidity) – stiffness and tension in the muscles, which can make it difficult to move around and make facial expressions, and can result in painful muscle cramps (dystonia)Physical symptoms
balance problems loss of sense of smell (anosmia nerve pain problems with peeing constipation an inability to obtain or sustain an erection (erectile dysfunction) in men difficulty becoming sexually aroused and achieving an orgasm (sexual dysfunction) in women dizziness, blurred vision or fainting when moving from a sitting or lying position to a standing one excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) excessive production of saliva (drooling) problems sleeping (insomnia)Cognitive and psychiatric symptoms
depression and anxiety mild cognitive impairment – slight memory problems and problems with activities that require planning and organisation dementia – a group of symptoms, including more severe memory problems, personality changes, seeing things that are not there (visual hallucinations) and believing things that are not true (delusions)A new paper in the Nature Aging journal has showed promising results related to a simple blood test.
Combining this with a reduction in RNF fragments, scientists were able to detect the difference between those with Parkinson’s and those with only very subtle symptoms such as mood issues that often go unnoticed.
The test could be around 86 per cent accurate.
How the test works
The blood test examines what small RNA molecules known as transfer RNA fragments (tRFs), which appear to play a role in neurological issues such as Parkinson’s.
Two key biomarkers emerged from the research – one that’s linked to Parkinson’s and another to the progression of the disease.
Scientists used a simple blood test to measure the distance between them.
The findings suggested it can distinguish between a Parkinson’s patient and a healthy control with up to 86 per cent accuracy.
The Hebrew University team has filed provisional patents in the United States for the technology and is now pursuing large-scale diagnostic trials.
To find out more about Parkinson’s visit the Parkinson’s UK website or call the Alzheimer’s Society on 0333 150 3456.
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