Study Rationale: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common and growing brain disorder that currently has no cure and is difficult to diagnose early. A key feature of PD is the abnormal buildup of a protein called alpha-synuclein in brain cells. Recent research shows that small particles released from nerve cells, called extracellular vesicles (EVs), carry proteins and fats that may reflect changes happening in the brain. These vesicles can be found in blood, offering a less invasive way to detect disease-related changes early on.
Hypothesis:nWe believe that the protein and fat (lipid) makeup of neuron-derived EVs found in blood can reveal early signs of Parkinson’s disease and help identify people at risk.
Study Design:nWe will collect blood samples from 150 people with early-stage PD and 150 healthy individuals. From these samples, we will isolate EVs specifically released by nerve cells and study their contents using advanced laboratory techniques. We will compare proteins and fats found in the EVs between the two groups to find patterns linked to PD. By combining these findings with genetic and clinical data, we aim to identify markers in the blood that could help detect PD early.
Impact on Diagnosis/Treatment of Parkinson’s disease: If successful, this study could lead to a simple blood test that helps detect Parkinson’s at an earlier stage, when treatments may be more effective, and allows for better selection of patients for clinical trials.
Next Steps for Development:bThe most promising markers will be tested in larger and longer-term studies to see if they can also predict disease progression and treatment response, bringing us closer to personalized care for people with or at risk of Parkinson’s.