Breakthrough identifies disease before major brain damage
Researchers led by Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have identified biological markers that reveal Parkinson’s disease at a very early stage, potentially years before the classic motor symptoms appear. The findings suggest the disease leaves detectable traces in the blood, but only during a limited early window.
The discovery could open the door to blood-based screening tests and earlier intervention, a major step forward for a neurological condition that currently lacks both a cure and an effective early diagnostic method.
Parkinson’s disease affects more than 10 million people worldwide, and with ageing populations, that number is expected to more than double by 2050. By the time tremors and movement problems appear, however, a large proportion of the brain cells involved are already irreversibly damaged.
A critical window before symptoms emerge
The study, published in npj Parkinson’s Disease, was conducted in collaboration with Oslo University Hospital in Norway. It focuses on biological changes that occur during the very earliest phase of the disease, which can last up to 20 years before motor symptoms fully develop.
According to the researchers, between 50% and 80% of the relevant nerve cells are often already lost by the time Parkinson’s is clinically diagnosed. Identifying the disease earlier could therefore be crucial to slowing or even preventing further progression.
The team concentrated on two cellular processes believed to play a key role early on: DNA damage repair, which allows cells to detect and correct genetic damage, and the cellular stress response, a protective mechanism that prioritizes repair over normal cell activity.
Distinct gene activity detected in blood
Using machine learning and advanced data analysis, the researchers identified a unique pattern of gene activity linked to these two processes. This pattern was found only in individuals in the early phase of Parkinson’s and was absent in both healthy individuals and patients who had already developed motor symptoms.
This suggests there is a short but crucial period during which the disease can be detected via blood analysis, before significant neurological damage occurs.
Early symptoms during this phase may be subtle and non-motor, including sleep disturbances such as REM sleep behavior disorder, reduced sense of smell, or depression, making biological detection particularly valuable.
Path toward screening and future treatments
Unlike previous approaches relying on brain imaging or spinal fluid analysis, the newly identified markers can be measured in blood. This makes large-scale screening more feasible, cost-effective, and accessible within routine health care.
The researchers believe that within five years, blood tests based on these biomarkers could begin clinical trials in health systems. In the longer term, understanding these early mechanisms may also help guide the development of treatments, including the possibility of repurposing existing drugs used for other conditions.
By capturing Parkinson’s disease at its biological starting point, the study offers hope not only for earlier diagnosis, but also for interventions that could fundamentally change how the disease is managed.