Israeli and British scientists have developed a breakthrough blood test capable of detecting Parkinson’s disease in its earliest stages—before symptoms even begin—potentially revolutionizing diagnosis and treatment.
A joint team of researchers from Israel and the UK has unveiled a fast, affordable, and highly accurate blood test that can identify Parkinson’s disease long before clinical symptoms arise, The Press Service of Israel (TPS-IL) reports.
Parkinson’s, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, affects over 10 million people globally and is notoriously difficult to diagnose early. By the time symptoms like tremors or stiffness appear, significant and often irreversible neurological damage has usually occurred.
The new test, based on qPCR technology, detects subtle changes in RNA fragments—specifically RGTTCRA-tRF—that are linked to the early development of the disease. This allows for pre-symptomatic diagnosis, enabling earlier interventions that could delay or even prevent disease progression.
The study was led by PhD student Nimrod Madrer and supervised by Prof. Hermona Soreq at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in collaboration with Dr. Iddo Paldor of the Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Dr. Eyal Soreq of the University of Surrey and Imperial College London. The findings were published in the journal Aging Nature.
The test could be particularly valuable for individuals with a family history of Parkinson’s, genetic risk factors, or early non-motor symptoms such as REM sleep behavior disorder. It could also aid pharmaceutical companies in selecting candidates for clinical trials targeting early-stage disease.
Beyond diagnosis, the test may help track the effectiveness of treatments by monitoring RNA fragment levels over time, giving clinicians a powerful tool to personalize therapy.
With broader clinical trials underway, the test could soon be available in community clinics, making early Parkinson’s screening widely accessible for the first time.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 30th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Around 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed while fighting for Russia against Ukraine, according to South Korean lawmakers citing information from the country’s intelligence agency. The total number of North Korean troops deployed to fight alongside Russia is reported to be 15,000.
The Trump administration is reviewing possible changes to a Biden-era rule that restricts global access to advanced AI chips, including potentially scrapping the current system that divides countries into three tiers, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to end the war in Ukraine, even as missile strikes continue across the country.
President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree renaming Volgograd International Airport as Stalingrad, invoking Soviet wartime memory as Russia continues its war in Ukraine.
Russian drone strikes targeted the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Dnipro late Tuesday, killing at least one person and injuring around 50 others, according to local officials. And, a drone strike continues in Dobropillia in Donetsk Oblast on Wednesday.
A satellite developed by British scientists and engineers is poised to become the world’s first to capture three-dimensional measurements of Earth’s forests from space.
Operation in Iran’s Shahid Rajaei Port in the southern city of Bandar Abbas is back to normal after firefighters put off the deadly fire which broke out on Saturday, customs authorities said.
Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has approved a coalition agreement with the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU), securing the final step needed to form a new government under Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz.
Political directors from France, Britain, and Germany are scheduled to meet with Iranian officials in Rome on Friday, according to two diplomatic sources who confirmed the meeting to Reuters.
Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least twelve people and injuring 90, including children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
In an expansive interview marking his first 100 days back in office, President Donald Trump sketched out an agenda that touches everything from punitive tariffs and China policy to cease-fire hopes in Ukraine and an overhaul of domestic programmes. Below are the highlights.
A deadly explosion at Iran’s Bandar Abbas port has left at least 40 dead, with more than 1,200 people injured, state media reported on Sunday, halting operations at one of the country’s most vital trade hubs.
For three generations, the Liebigs built railcars in Görlitz. Now, the factory that shaped their lives will produce parts for battle tanks.
North Korea has launched a new 5,000-tonne destroyer as part of Kim Jong Un’s plans to expand the country’s naval power far beyond its coastal waters.
China released a white paper on COVID-19 prevention, control and origins tracing on Wednesday, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported, lauding its own contributions while casting doubts on the United States.
Australia’s Labor party has promised a free medical advice line and expanded Medicare funding as cost-of-living pressures dominate the election campaign.
After weeks of no new infections, Uganda has officially brought its latest battle against the deadly ebola virus to a close, authorities announced on Saturday.
Afghanistan is facing a sharp increase in measles and other diseases, with over 12,500 new measles cases reported in March alone, as its strained health system struggles to respond amid declining international aid.
A highly accurate blood test that uses artificial intelligence to detect multiple cancers from just a few drops of blood is now entering clinical trials across the UK’s National Health Service.
Russian drone strikes targeted the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Dnipro late Tuesday, killing at least one person and injuring around 50 others, according to local officials. And, a drone strike continues in Dobropillia in Donetsk Oblast on Wednesday.
A satellite developed by British scientists and engineers is poised to become the world’s first to capture three-dimensional measurements of Earth’s forests from space.
Operation in Iran’s Shahid Rajaei Port in the southern city of Bandar Abbas is back to normal after firefighters put off the deadly fire which broke out on Saturday, customs authorities said.
Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has approved a coalition agreement with the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU), securing the final step needed to form a new government under Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz.
Political directors from France, Britain, and Germany are scheduled to meet with Iranian officials in Rome on Friday, according to two diplomatic sources who confirmed the meeting to Reuters.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment