Study Rationale: Parkinson’s disease is often diagnosed using tests that require spinal fluid, which is collected through an invasive procedure called a lumbar puncture. However, this method can be uncomfortable and may discourage patients, especially if repeated testing is needed. Tear fluid offers a simpler, non-invasive alternative that can be collected with minimal discomfort. Tear fluid is closely linked to the nervous system and has already shown differences in protein composition between people with Parkinson’s disease and healthy individuals. This study aims to improve and validate a tear-fluid-based test to detect Parkinson’s disease related protein changes, making diagnosis easier and more patient-friendly.
Hypothesis: Can tear fluid be used as a reliable and non-invasive biomaterial for detecting Parkinson’s disease through alpha-synuclein seeding aggregation assays, offering diagnostic accuracy comparable to cerebrospinal fluid while being easier and more comfortable for patients?
Study Design:We will use previously collected tear fluid samples from patients with Parkinson’s disease, other related conditions, and healthy individuals. First, we will refine the laboratory test to detect the aggregation of the protein alpha-synuclein, which is linked to Parkinson’s disease, using tear fluid. After optimizing the test, we will apply it to more samples to confirm its accuracy and compare the results to tests using cerebrospinal fluid. Finally, we will ensure the test produces consistent results across three research labs and analyze the data to prepare for publication.
Impact on Diagnosis/Treatment of Parkinson’s disease: This project has the potential to transform the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease by providing a non-invasive, easily accessible test using tear fluid, which could offer a more patient-friendly alternative to cerebrospinal fluid collection. This approach could lead to earlier, more widespread detection of Parkinson’s disease and improve patient participation in clinical research.
Next Steps for Development: If successful, the following steps would involve further validating the tear fluid-based asyn-SAA in larger patient cohorts by collaborating with more centers. We would then aim to integrate this non-invasive diagnostic method into routine clinical practice and clinical trials.