Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Spinal Fluid Biomarker for Parkinson’s Disease Offers Early and Accurate Diagnosis

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 29 Apr 2025

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition typically diagnosed at an advanced stage based on clinical symptoms, primarily motor disorders. More...

However, by this time, the brain has already undergone significant and irreversible damage. Additionally, diagnosis can be challenging and often inaccurate because the disease manifests in various forms, with symptoms overlapping those of other disorders. Researchers have now identified a biomarker in spinal fluid that enables a reliable diagnosis at an earlier stage and provides insights into disease progression and the effects of therapy.

Parkinson’s disease is marked by the loss of dopaminergic nerve cells in the brain, leading to progressively worsening motor impairments. While dopamine supplements can temporarily compensate for the loss and alleviate symptoms, they do not address the underlying cause. A key factor in the development of Parkinson’s disease is the misfolding of the protein alpha-synuclein (αSyn) from α-helical structures to β-sheet-rich structures. These misfoldings cause the protein to become sticky, leading to the formation of larger complexes known as oligomers. The oligomers then form long fibrillar filaments, which aggregate into large Lewy bodies in the brain.

In two independent clinical cohorts comprising a total of 134 participants, researchers from the PRODI Center for Protein Diagnostics at Ruhr University Bochum (Bochum, Germany) and its spin-off biotech company betaSENSE (Bochum, Germany) demonstrated that the misfolding of αSyn in bodily fluids is a reliable biomarker for diagnosing Parkinson’s disease, with sensitivity and specificity exceeding 90 percent. The study, which used cerebrospinal fluid samples from patients at Parkinson’s centers in Germany, employed betaSENSE’s patented iRS (immuno-infrared sensor) technology. This technology has already been successfully applied in diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. The findings, published in EMBO Molecular Medicine, revealed that misfolding of the biomarker Aβ can predict the risk of Alzheimer’s dementia with high accuracy, up to 17 years before a clinical diagnosis. Beyond diagnostic applications, this technology can also aid in the development of new therapeutic agents and validate their effectiveness in clinical trials.

Related Links:
Ruhr University Bochum
betaSENSE


Gold Member
Flocked Fiber Swabs
Puritan® Patented HydraFlock®
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
Automated PCR Setup
ESTREAM
New
Candida Glabrata Test
ELIchrom Glabrata
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: A simple blood test could replace surgical biopsies for early detecion of heart transplant rejection (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Blood Test Detects Organ Rejection in Heart Transplant Patients

Following a heart transplant, patients are required to undergo surgical biopsies so that physicians can assess the possibility of organ rejection. Rejection happens when the recipient’s immune system identifies... Read more

Pathology

view channel
These images illustrate how precision oncology Organ Chips recapitulate individual patients’ responses to chemotherapy (Photo courtesy of Wyss Institute at Harvard University)

Cancer Chip Accurately Predicts Patient-Specific Chemotherapy Response

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), one of the two primary types of esophageal cancer, ranks as the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and currently lacks effective targeted therapies.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.