PARKINSON’S BIOMARKERS COULD TRANSFORM HOW THE DISEASE IS PREDICTED AND TREATED

MRI scans can significantly improve forecasts of both motor and non-motor symptoms up to five years after diagnosis.

Parkinson’s biomarkers could soon change how the disease is understood, with new research suggesting they can help predict symptom development years in advance.

Why Parkinson’s biomarkers are a breakthrough

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is often seen as a movement disorder, but up to 85 per cent of people will also

experience cognitive or mood-related symptoms.

These non-motor symptoms are key drivers of quality of life, yet remain difficult to predict because symptoms vary so widely, patients are often left uncertain about how the disease will progress.

How Parkinson’s biomarkers improve prediction

Researchers from the University of Adelaide have found that Parkinson’s biomarkers, including those detected in cerebrospinal fluid and through MRI scans, can significantly improve forecasts of both motor and non-motor symptoms up to five years after diagnosis.

“Across both studies, biomarkers had utility for improving prediction of how an individual's symptoms would present at the five-year follow-up, beyond clinical symptom presentation alone,” said Associate Professor Lyndsey Collins-Praino.

A move towards personalised treatment

The study also revealed that distinct biomarker patterns are associated with distinct disease pathways, offering a more precise understanding of disease progression.

“Such enhanced understanding has the potential to directly impact clinical management of PD, leading to enhanced monitoring, such as earlier specialist referral and more personalised management strategies,” Collins-Praino said.

Researchers are now expanding the work to include blood-based biomarkers and life history data, aiming to refine predictions even further.