Montreal, October 17, 2023 – During the plenary lecture at 26th World Congress of Neurology, Dr. Anthony Lang, Professor of Neurology and Jack Clark Professor of Parkinson’s Disease Research at the University of Toronto, has unveiled a groundbreaking new model for identifying and studying Parkinson’s disease. This new approach will help researchers investigate biological aspects of the disease that could be detected years before symptoms begin to appear.
The new model outlines three criteria for identifying Parkinson’s disease based on distinct, measurable biological factors. Lang explained that this new biological model will allow doctors and researchers to understand Parkinson’s disease in a deeper and more complex way than current clinical models, which are limited to observing symptoms in individual patients. did.
“We believe this is a fundamentally different way of looking at Parkinson’s disease,” Lang said. “In the era of new biomarkers, we have reached a point where our research needs to be driven by the biological determinants of disease, rather than simply being limited to clinical explanations of signs and symptoms.”
New Parkinson’s disease classification model provides new criteria for defining disease
Parkinson’s disease is usually diagnosed by a doctor who identifies symptoms in a clinical setting. In recent decades, researchers have uncovered biological causes of the disease, including genetic factors and the presence of synuclein proteins in the brain, but how to test for these biomarkers in living patients remains unclear. was largely unavailable until recently. Lang hopes this major step toward biological models will spur research investigating these biomarkers and give scientists a more complex understanding of the disease. This could facilitate the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic methods.
Lang and his colleagues call this new model “SynNeurGe” (pronounced “synergy”), based on three key biological aspects used to identify diseases and their key interactions. is.
- Shin – Presence of alpha-synuclein protein (often called “Parkinson’s disease protein”). It can now be measured in body fluids such as spinal fluid, in the skin, and, hopefully in the near future, in the blood.
- newur – The presence of neurodegeneration that occurs with the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
- Game – The presence of genetic factors known to cause the disease.
This new three-part classification aims to describe the different situations in which Parkinson’s disease appears in patients. For example, based on current limited testing methods, some patients with hereditary Parkinson’s disease have no sign of the synuclein protein in their brains after death. Lang hopes that future research will eventually allow doctors to classify patients based on different categories or types of Parkinson’s disease.
“We can’t just say that Parkinson’s disease is a synucleinopathy,” Lang says. “If we are to change research and advance our understanding of all aspects of this disease, we must understand the underlying biology and the different mechanisms by which cells die, understand the epidemiology of the disease, and develop new biomarkers. Developing and eventually moving into precision medicine,” and if we are successful in ameliorating the disease, we actually need a different classification. Our classification is a broader and more comprehensive way of looking at Parkinson’s disease. ”
New model advances research in Parkinson’s disease and other disease areas
Additionally, this model will advance research to differentiate Parkinson’s disease from other diseases that cause brain decline, allowing scientists to develop more effective ways to diagnose and treat these conditions. Masu. For example, synuclein proteins are also involved in conditions such as multiple system atrophy (MSA). Professor Lang said this new approach provides a clearer target for understanding how synuclein is related to brain decline and genetic factors in Parkinson’s disease compared to its role in other similar diseases. We hope that this will be provided to researchers. In the future, this could help researchers more accurately distinguish between the early stages of each disease.
Importantly, Lang emphasized that this new biological classification is for research purposes only and is not intended to be applied to clinical care. There are a number of important research questions that need to be answered before this model can be used in routine patient care. For example, researchers need to conduct large prospective studies to better understand the biological factors involved when patients have synuclein-positive laboratory test results without showing clinical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. there is.
“Parkinson’s disease is the fastest growing neurodegenerative disease. It has a profound impact on healthcare and quality of life. We need treatments that slow the progression and alter the natural course of these neurodegenerative diseases. ,” Lang said. “If we see changes in brain health, we need to expand our investigation. [is impacted by] We truly believe this is the first step to getting there. ”
visit wcn-neurology.com To learn more about Dr. Lang and all of the research highlighted at this year’s WCN.
About the World Congress of Neurology
The World Congress of Neurology brings together leading neuroscientists and public health experts to translate research into action and highlight the importance of brain health around the world. The 26th Biennial Conference was held in Montreal from October 15 to 19, 2023, co-sponsored by the Canadian Neurological Society (CNS).
About the World Federation of Neurology
The World Federation of Neurology, with support from its 123 national member societies, promotes high-quality neurology education and training worldwide, with an emphasis on under-resourced areas. Promotes neurology and brain health. As a non-state actor in official relations, WFN supports the World Health Organization’s (WHO) efforts to give everyone an equal opportunity to live a healthy life. WFN works with member associations around the world to unite neurologists around the world to ensure quality neurology and advocate for better brain health for people. For more information about the World Congress of Neurology, please visit the following URL: wfneurology.org.
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