4 Fox Focus | Research
A Biological Staging System for Parkinson ’ s
What It Means for Research Moving Forward
By Jen Fisher Wilson
With the new biomarker for the misfolded alpha-synuclein protein linked to the disease , the field has entered a new era . Already , the test , called the alpha-synuclein seeding
amplification assay , or aSyn-SAA , has sparked action toward an important next step : a system for staging Parkinson ’ s disease that helps researchers and clinicians understand the full
AN EARLY DISEASE SCREENING PROCESS WILL BE A GAME CHANGER
Lower cost / Less friction
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Smell Testing
Change in smell is an evidence-based indicator for Parkinson ’ s . Based on age or existing risk factors for Parkinson ’ s , a doctor would recommend a smell test and potentially a short cognition survey . The process would nominate individuals with poorest smell for the next step , a test for biology .
Biofluid-Based Testing
The new biomarker test , αSyn-SAA , makes it possible to detect the disease in living people before symptoms develop . Today , the test uses spinal fluid , and soon it will use a less invasively obtained fluid , such as blood .