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New £80 Blood Test Shows 86% Accuracy in Early Parkinson’s Detection

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed a PCR-based test that identifies Parkinson’s disease before full symptoms emerge, with large-scale trials now underway.

Parkinson’s is caused by a loss of nerve cells in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra
Early diagnosis of Parkinson's could lead to huge improvements for patients (Photo: Getty Images/E+)

Overview

  • The blood test analyzes transfer RNA fragments (tRFs) and mitochondrial RNA levels to detect early molecular changes linked to Parkinson’s disease.
  • Using PCR technology, the test amplifies genetic markers for accurate detection, leveraging infrastructure from the COVID-19 era.
  • The test demonstrated 86% accuracy in distinguishing Parkinson’s patients, including those with subtle early symptoms, from healthy individuals.
  • Early diagnosis could enable timely therapeutic interventions to protect dopamine-producing brain cells and potentially slow disease progression.
  • Led by Professor Hermona Soreq, the research team has filed provisional patents and is preparing for large-scale diagnostic trials to support clinical adoption.