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Parkinson disease

Progress towards a molecular biomarker for Parkinson disease

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Proteins linked to neurodegenerative diseases can potentially be used as biomarkers. A study now shows that after accounting for confounding variables such as age and blood contamination, cerebrospinal fluid levels of α-synuclein and DJ1 are substantially reduced in patients with Parkinson disease compared with healthy controls or individuals with Alzheimer disease.

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Figure 1: Synuclein brain pathology in Parkinson disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, School of Health and Medicine, Bailrigg, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK

    Penelope Foulds & David Allsop

  2. Neurodegeneration and Mental Health Research Group, School of Community Based Medicine, University of Manchester, Hope Hospital, Stott Lane, M6 8HD, Salford, UK

    David M. A. Mann

  3. Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Preston Hospital, Sharoe Green Lane, PR2 9HT, Preston, UK

    J. Douglas Mitchell

Authors
  1. Penelope Foulds
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  2. David M. A. Mann
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  3. J. Douglas Mitchell
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  4. David Allsop
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Correspondence to David Allsop.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Foulds, P., Mann, D., Mitchell, J. et al. Progress towards a molecular biomarker for Parkinson disease. Nat Rev Neurol 6, 359–361 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2010.78

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