Analyzing vocal recordings could help in detecting Parkinson’s disease at early stages, according to a study that tested the idea using decades’ worth of recordings from celebrities who went on to develop the neurodegenerative condition. “This study shows that early patterns of [speech changes] are detectable up to 10…

A new method for detecting toxic protein clumps of alpha-synuclein in skin cells may help diagnose Parkinson’s disease up to two decades before motor symptoms appear, according to a recent study. The novel technology combines super-resolution microscopy and advanced computational analysis to precisely map the protein clumps’ molecules…

A new visual diagnostic technique called Cap-QuIC has the potential to advance the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease. “The simplicity and efficiency of Cap-QuIC could lower the barriers to routine screening for neurodegenerative diseases, ultimately leading to earlier intervention and better patient outcomes,” Hye Yoon…

Amprion is launching SAAmplify, a set of biomarker panels that can be used as a tool to help in the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions linked to the formation of toxic clumps of the protein alpha-synuclein. With its launch planned for this year, SAAmplify builds…

A model that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze electroencephalography (EEG)-based patterns of brain activity showed a potential to accurately diagnose Parkinson’s disease at early stages, according to a recent study from Australia. EEG, a non-invasive way of studying the brain’s electrical activity, is used to detect patterns of…

An imaging agent for positron emission tomography (PET) scans allowed researchers to visualize, for the first time, abnormal alpha-synuclein protein clumps in the brains of living patients with Parkinson’s disease, a study showed. By detecting a hallmark feature of Parkinson’s found in relatively lower abundance in the brain compared…

I never thought I’d be interested in a support group for Parkinson’s caregivers. When my husband, Arman, was diagnosed, we were both in our late 30s, and I certainly didn’t think I could relate to anyone caring for someone in my parent’s generation. I was also so busy…

A new test that can detect extremely small concentrations of clumped alpha-synuclein may help to detect Parkinson’s disease and related disorders in early stages. The test, reportedly able to spot single protein fibrils, was described in the study, “Toward the quantification of [alpha]-synuclein aggregates with digital…

Some molecular changes that drive damage to brain cells in Parkinson’s disease take place in skin cells too, a study has found, adding to evidence that examining the skin may support an early diagnosis. Because skin cells are much easier to collect than brain cells, they also could be…

A new blood test that assesses damage on a particular type of DNA may help in the early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, before symptoms start, a new study reports. “Currently, Parkinson’s disease is diagnosed largely based on clinical symptoms after significant neurological damage has already occurred,” Laurie Sanders,…