A Decade+ Investment Pays off with Parkinson’s Biomarker Discovery
In 2010, the Michael J. Fox Foundation made a BIG bet on investing in researching a biomarker for Parkinson’s Disease (PPMI project). On April 12th it was announced that the bet paid off.
Researchers announced that with the α-synuclein seeding amplification assay (αSyn-SAA), they now have a tool capable of detecting abnormal alpha-synuclein, a key pathology in Parkinson's disease (PD). The breakthrough marks a significant shift in understanding, diagnosing, and treating PD. The assay was validated with 93% accuracy and promises to enable earlier diagnoses, targeted treatments, and more efficient drug development. Efforts are underway to develop αSyn-SAA for the widespread use and optimize it to measure the amount of alpha-synuclein present, potentially through blood draws or nasal swabs. This development holds tremendous potential for transforming research and care for those living with Parkinson's disease.
