Tel Aviv University researchers have discovered a novel method to detect protein aggregation, a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease, potentially enabling diagnosis up to 15 years before symptoms appear.
This early detection could lead to preventive treatments for at-risk individuals, particularly those with genetic mutations common among Ashkenazi Jews.
Led by professor Uri Ashery and doctoral student Ofir Sade, the team examined cells from Parkinson’s patients using super-resolution microscopy to detect abnormal aggregation of the alpha-synuclein protein, not in the brain but in skin cells.
Parkinson’s, which affects 8.5 million people globally, is characterized by the destruction of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. By the time motor symptoms emerge, most of these neurons are already lost, making current treatments limited. The researchers hope that early identification of protein aggregation could prevent cell damage.
The researchers said they had already observed promising results in studies on mice and were conducting clinical trials on humans.
Supported by the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the researchers aim to extend their findings to other neurodegenerative diseases.
