New blood test to predict Parkinson’s disease gives early-diagnosis hope

Researchers have developed a simple blood test using artificial intelligence to predict Parkinson’s disease years before the start of symptoms.

They hope this can lead to a low-cost, finger-prick test providing early diagnoses – and help find treatments to slow down the disease.

Charity Parkinson’s UK said it was “a major step forward” in the search for a non-invasive patient-friendly test.

Parkinson’s disease affects up to 10 million people worldwide and over 150,000 in the UK.  Many are diagnosed after having already developed symptoms, such as tremors, movement and memory problems – caused by nerve cells dying in the part of the brain that controls movement.  There is no cure, and no treatment to slow down progression or stop the disease, although therapies exist to help manage symptoms.

Professor David Dexter, research director at Parkinson’s UK, which helped fund the study, said “The findings add to an exciting flurry of recent activity towards finding a simple way to test for and measure Parkinson’s.”  He added that the test may be able to tell the difference between Parkinson’ and other similar conditions.

Chadwick Lawrence’s Legal 500 recommended West Yorkshire medical negligence solicitors, have over 20 years of experience and specialist expertise in medical negligence investigations and claims, supporting injured clients and their families through the legal process and helping them obtain answers, justice and compensation after life-changing events.  We have offices in Huddersfield, Wakefield, Halifax, Leeds, Bradford and Morley and represent clients locally and nationally.

If you or a relative have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence lawyers on the freephone number below or e-mail us.

Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

Freephone : 0800 304 7382