{"id":7143,"date":"2024-05-30T04:17:07","date_gmt":"2024-05-30T04:17:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/?p=7143"},"modified":"2024-05-30T04:17:07","modified_gmt":"2024-05-30T04:17:07","slug":"this-simple-skin-biopsy-can-detect-parkinsons-disease-with-93-percent-accuracy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/this-simple-skin-biopsy-can-detect-parkinsons-disease-with-93-percent-accuracy\/","title":{"rendered":"This Simple Skin Biopsy Can Detect Parkinson\u2019s Disease With 93 Percent Accuracy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Deposit Photos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A new study published on March 20 in JAMA<\/a> found that a simple skin biopsy test conducted at the doctor\u2019s office can detect Parkinson\u2019s disease<\/a> with 93 percent accuracy.<\/p>\n

This special biopsy, known as the Syn-One Test, has previously shown effectiveness in identifying various neurological disorders. However, this study was the first to focus on a subgroup of a neurodegenerative conditions collectively known as synucleinopathies<\/a>.<\/p>\n

These conditions include Parkinson\u2019s disease, Lewy body dementia<\/a>, multiple system atrophy, and pure autonomic failure. The study was conducted in a large, blinded fashion across multiple centers in the United States.<\/p>\n

Lead author\u00a0Christopher Gibbons, MD<\/a>, a neurologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center<\/a> and a professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School<\/a> in Boston, says, \u201cToo often patients experience delays in diagnosis or are misdiagnosed due to the complexity of these diseases.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Dr. Gibbons notes that the ability to detect the abnormal protein associated with Parkinson\u2019s disease and related conditions with such high accuracy will lead to better diagnostic outcomes \u00a0and improved care for patients.<\/p>\n

More Than 1 in 4 Patients Receive Incorrect Diagnosis Before Parkinson\u2019s Diagnosis<\/strong><\/h3>\n

According to the authors, an estimated 180,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s disease, Lewy body dementia, and related disorders each year. Despite Parkinson\u2019s disease being the most well-known of the synucleinopathies, Lewy body dementia is actually more common.<\/p>\n

However, because these conditions share overlapping signs and symptoms such as tremors and cognitive changes, diagnosis can be challenging. A 2020 survey conducted by Parkinson\u2019s UK revealed that 1 in 4 people reported being misdiagnosed with a different condition before receiving the correct Parkinson\u2019s diagnosis.<\/p>\n

Lewy body dementia can also be misdiagnosed because its cognitive symptoms, especially early in the disease course, can resemble those of Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/a>. It is crucial to distinguish between the two because some medications used for Alzheimer\u2019s symptoms can cause serious side effects in people with Lewy body dementia.<\/p>\n

Test Accurately Identified Individuals with Neurodegenerative Diseases in 93 to 100 Percent of Cases<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Researchers from 30 academic and community-based neurology practices across the United States recruited 428 participants aged between 40 and 99. Among them were 151 healthy individual without brain disease and 277 individuals diagnosed with one of the four neurodegenerative diseases, confirmed by physical examination and symptoms assessment by an expert panel.<\/p>\n

Participants underwent three 3-millimeter skin punch biopsies, taken from the neck, knee, and ankle. The researchers were specifically searching for an abnormal protein called phosphorylated alpha-synuclein (P-SYN), which is commonly observed in the brain and spinal cord of individuals with synucleinopathies.<\/p>\n

According to the study, these were the key findings:<\/p>\n