Study Rationale:
The ability to identify people during life, who are likely to have underlying Lewy body pathology has been a game-changer. However, the current test (SAA) is limited to cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), which can only be obtained after an invasive lumbar puncture. A similarly accurate test using a blood sample would be less-invasive and more repeatable, improving diagnosis and access to clinical trials.
Hypothesis:
A biomarker panel of proteins from blood will be able to predict who is CSF SAA positive (detected), and who is not positive (not detected).
Study Design:
We will use data from available research participant groups, who have previously had protein analysis performed in the blood (plasma) and identify groups of proteins, or a protein "signature" that best predicts whether that person is CSF SAA positive (detected) or not. We will then validate this protein signature in a unique group of people with known CSF SAA status. We will also analyze the relationships between this protein signature and Parkinson’s disease genetic risk and clinical signs and symptoms.
Impact on Diagnosis/Treatment of Parkinson’s disease:
A blood test that can accurately predict CSF SAA will expand Lewy body pathology testing to broad community-based groups, people in resource-limited areas, and people at risk for developing disease, as well as improve screening for clinical trials.
Next Steps for Development:
When successful, we will make the protein signature publicly available to be tested in new research groups to determine whether it is broadly applicable to people with different symptoms. We will also then optimize the signature so that it is as easily testable as possible.