Researchers at The Florey and Austin Health have achieved a groundbreaking milestone in the field of neurodegenerative diseases.
They have demonstrated the possibility of detecting early signs of Parkinson’s disease a staggering 20 to 30 years before any symptoms manifest.
This remarkable breakthrough opens the door to screening programs and preventative treatments, potentially averting irreversible damage.
Challenging Misconceptions
Parkinson’s disease is often misconceived as an ailment of old age. However, it quietly takes root in midlife, remaining undetectable for decades.
By the time symptoms become apparent, up to 85% of the brain’s motor coordination neurons may have already been irreparably damaged.
This delayed diagnosis renders many treatments ineffective, emphasizing the critical need for early detection and intervention.
The Quest for Early Detection
Professor Kevin Barnham from The Florey underscores the importance of finding a way to identify Parkinson’s disease much earlier in its progression, ideally before significant harm occurs.
To this end, the researchers have made a significant stride by leveraging a known biomarker called F-AV-133 in combination with positron emission tomography (PET) scans to diagnose the disease and closely monitor neurodegeneration.
In their study, Professor Chris Rowe and his team at Austin Health conducted PET scans on 26 Parkinson’s disease patients, a control group of 12 individuals, and 11 people with Rapid Eye Movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD), a strong indicator of the disease.
Each participant underwent two PET scans with a two-year gap between them. Astonishingly, there were no discernible changes in clinical symptoms over this period, as assessed by conventional Parkinson’s disease evaluations.
However, the PET scans revealed “significant neuronal loss” in three critical brain regions in those with Parkinson’s disease, suggesting that F-AV-133 is a more sensitive tool for tracking neurodegeneration.
A Decades-Long Process
The researchers employed mathematical modeling to estimate the timeline of neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease. Their findings revealed a slow neuronal loss process spanning approximately 33 years.
This loss begins about a decade and a half before detection via PET scans and six and a half years prior to the onset of motor symptoms.
Even after the emergence of physical symptoms, there is still a gap of about three years before a clinical diagnosis can be confirmed. In essence, neurodegeneration occurs for roughly 22.5 years before clinical symptoms reach the threshold for diagnosis.
A Promising Future
Professor Barnham believes that these findings provide a promising avenue for the development of screening protocols, enabling the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s disease up to a decade earlier than current methods allow.
Furthermore, this advancement could aid in identifying suitable candidates for clinical trials, potentially accelerating research into effective treatments for the disease.
Understanding Rapid Eye Movement Behavioral Disorder (RBD)
RBD, short for Rapid Eye Movement Behavioral Disorder, is characterized by individuals shouting, thrashing, or acting out vivid and unsettling dreams during sleep.
It results from a lack of muscle atonia, the paralysis that typically occurs during REM sleep.
Notably, 90% of individuals with RBD are at risk of developing a Parkinsonian condition, while half of all Parkinson’s patients have a history of RBD. This sleep disorder serves as a significant early warning sign for Parkinson’s disease.
If you or someone you know experiences RBD symptoms, it is advisable to seek consultation with a sleep specialist and/or a neurologist to assess the potential risk of developing Parkinson’s disease and explore preventive measures.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies about Vitamin E that may help prevent Parkinson’s disease, and Vitamin D could benefit people with Parkinson’s disease.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about new way to treat Parkinson’s disease, and results showing COVID-19 may be linked to Parkinson’s disease.
The research findings can be found in Neurology.
Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
