Test for early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases

The first test for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases by blood analysis will begin to be sold in the summer. This was announced by its manufacturer, the American company Power3 Medical Products, on the pages of the journal Chemistry & Industry.

"Currently, there are no diagnostic tests for any neurodegenerative diseases on the market, and their detection is based solely on clinical symptoms," said Steve Rash, a company representative.

The test, called NuroPro, is based on determining the level of 59 biomarker proteins in a blood sample. It can be used to diagnose diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease). The test has a high sensitivity and specificity – more than 90%, says Rush.

According to the manufacturers, the new test makes it possible to diagnose Alzheimer's disease at an early stage – about six years before the onset of symptoms. Thus, doctors will be able to identify patients at risk earlier and prescribe treatment in order to slow down the development of the disease. In addition, the method may be useful for monitoring the effectiveness of treatment, experts believe.

It is planned that the new test will be available in Greece in the summer, and by the end of the year it will be available in the United States, the company's representatives said.

Source: First diagnostic test for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease on the horizon – Eurek Alert! 07.04.2008

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07.04.2008