Publication date: Jun 19, 2024

In the disease, proteins clump together inside brain cells that make dopamine, a key chemical messenger involved in coordinating movement. They also intend to validate their findings in other groups of people at risk for the condition , as well as refine the biomarkers used. “At present, we are shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted and we need to start experimental treatments before patients develop symptoms. The protein clumps damage, and eventually kill, the cells. This process leads to the condition’s hallmark symptoms of tremors, muscle stiffness, slow movement and unstable posture. “We are hopeful that these new tests will start being used within the next few years,” first for clinical trials and research and later for patient care. Eventually, they aim to develop a simpler version of their test that requires only a drop of blood, rather than a full vial. Currently, most people are treated when they begin to show signs of the condition, which Mills said is too late.

Semantics

Original Article