Promising New Test for Parkinson's Disease ?

  According to a preliminary study presented at the 70th American Academy of Neurology annual meeting certain proteins in tears may be useful biomarkers.
  Researchers at USC found the levels of total alpha-synuclein to be decreased in patients with Parkinson's disease compared to healthy controls.
  But levels of oligomeric alpha-synuclein were increased in those with Parkinson's disease compared to controls.
  It has been a longstanding challenge to differentiate patient's with Parkinsonism related to another illness from those with Parkinson's disease early on. This may help neurologist's make a diagnosis sooner as we anxiously await a cure.
AAN Annual Meeting Los Angeles 2018

Possible New Predictive Test for PD

Tissue obtained during colonoscopy showed immunostaining for alpha-synuclein years before the declaration of first motor symtoms consistent with disease onset. Additional study is required to determine if this will be a useful biomarker of pre-motor Parkinson's disease.

Movement Disorders May 1,2012