A new study from Spain suggests that a simple blood test may one day help doctors diagnose Parkinson’s disease earlier than ever before.
Researchers at the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) have found a promising way to spot early signs of the disease by analyzing genetic activity in a blood sample.
Although the method is not yet ready for use in hospitals, it showed strong results in a small study of patients who had just been diagnosed.
The research was published in the journal Neurotherapeutics and involved experts from several institutions, including UMH, the Institute of Neurosciences, the Institute for Health and Biomedical Research of Alicante (ISABIAL), the Carlos III Health Institute, and Hospital 12 de Octubre in Madrid.
Parkinson’s disease is a serious brain disorder that affects movement and can cause tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with balance. It is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s, and it affects around 12 million people worldwide.
One of the biggest challenges with Parkinson’s is that it’s usually diagnosed only after symptoms like shaking or slowed movement appear. By that time, much of the damage in the brain has already happened.
Until now, the only way to confirm Parkinson’s for sure was through a brain tissue analysis after death. That’s why doctors and scientists have been working hard to find a fast, easy, and non-invasive way to catch the disease earlier.
The new method developed by the UMH team uses a regular blood sample. The test focuses on a type of immune cell called peripheral blood mononuclear cells. These cells carry DNA, and while all cells have the same genes, not all genes are active all the time. Some turn on or off depending on what the body needs, such as when it fights an infection or responds to illness.
Using modern genetic tools and computer analysis, the researchers looked for patterns in the genes of people with Parkinson’s. They studied 23 people with early Parkinsonism and compared their results with those of 16 healthy people.
The scientists found that 22 genes were behaving differently in those with Parkinson’s. These gene changes were not seen in healthy people, suggesting they might be useful for early diagnosis.
Some of these genes are related to how the body handles inflammation, which supports the idea that the immune system plays a role in Parkinson’s. Others help with moving substances inside brain cells or controlling iron levels, both of which have been linked to brain damage in past research.
The researchers also found changes in the way cells grow, respond to stress, and interact with the immune system. These findings may help doctors understand how the disease starts and develops over time.
Although the study had a small number of participants, its results are promising. Similar findings from research teams in Italy and the United States support the idea that genetic signals in blood could help detect Parkinson’s early. More research with larger groups will be needed to confirm these results and bring the test into everyday use.
Professor Jorge Manzanares, who led the study, says that better tools for early diagnosis could lead to better, more personalized treatments. If doctors can catch Parkinson’s before major symptoms begin, there may be a better chance to slow the disease and improve patients’ lives.
For now, this research gives new hope that a simple blood draw could help solve one of the toughest problems in Parkinson’s care—catching the disease before it causes too much harm.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies that Vitamin B may slow down cognitive decline, and Mediterranean diet could help lower risk of Parkinson’s.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline, and results showing Plant-based diets could protect cognitive health from air pollution.
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