Israeli Scientists Develop Blood Test for Early Parkinson’s Detection

Jerusalem: In a promising breakthrough, researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have unveiled a new RNA-based blood test capable of detecting Parkinson’s disease well before symptoms become evident. Published in Nature Aging and reported by Xinhua, the study highlights a minimally invasive diagnostic approach that could significantly advance early intervention and improve patient outcomes.

Parkinson’s disease is typically diagnosed only after extensive brain damage has occurred, by which time most of the critical dopamine-producing neurons are already lost. This delay in diagnosis limits the effectiveness of treatment options, making early detection a vital research goal.

The newly developed blood test works by analyzing specific RNA fragments, particularly focusing on two key biomarkers. One is a repetitive RNA sequence that tends to accumulate in individuals with Parkinson’s, while the other is mitochondrial RNA, which declines as the disease progresses. By calculating the ratio between these two fragments, the test can accurately detect Parkinson’s in its earliest, pre-symptomatic stages.

"This discovery represents a major advancement in our understanding of Parkinson’s disease and offers a simple, minimally invasive blood test as a tool for early diagnosis," said Professor Hermona Soreq, a lead researcher in the study. She emphasized that the focus on tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) provides valuable insights into the molecular changes that occur in the initial phases of the condition.

In trials, the test demonstrated an impressive 86% accuracy in distinguishing pre-symptomatic Parkinson’s patients from healthy individuals, outperforming existing diagnostic tools. Interestingly, the researchers also observed that the levels of the RNA fragments decreased following deep brain stimulation therapy, suggesting a link between these biomarkers and disease mechanisms as well as treatment responses.

Lead author Nimrod Madrer stressed the importance of this development, noting that timely diagnosis could dramatically alter the disease’s trajectory. “This test has the potential to alleviate the uncertainty faced by patients and clinicians, offering a reliable and rapid method to identify the disease in its earliest stages,” he said.

The researchers believe that the test paves the way for early therapeutic interventions that may delay or modify the progression of Parkinson’s disease.