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US-based ATED Therapeutics has announced a new diagnostic test for Parkinson’s Disease, developed at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. The test measures transfer RNA fragments (tRF’s) from nucleated red blood cells.
Currently, there is no reliable blood test for Parkinson’s disease. Instead, physicians diagnose the disease by observing a patient’s movements. Such qualitative tests have an error rate of 20%-25%, and can only be used once the disease has progressed and significant symptoms appear. Another test relies on a spinal tap, which cannot measure progression and involves significant discomfort and expense for the patient.
"Hebrew University and ATED have developed a simple, reliable, cost effective blood test that will change the way Parkinson’s is diagnosed and will allow clinicians to accurately identify and follow how the disease is progressing,” said Jeff R. Swarz, Ph.D, CEO, ATED Therapeutics.
In addition, ATED’s test can measure the effects of deep brain stimulation (DBS), which is often used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
