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| Alzheimer's blood test 'promise' | Alzheimer's blood test 'promise' |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| A US company is hoping to be the first to market a blood test which can detect early signs of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. | A US company is hoping to be the first to market a blood test which can detect early signs of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. |
| Several teams are working on such a test but Power3 Medical Products says its could be launched in Europe this summer, Chemistry and Industry reports. | Several teams are working on such a test but Power3 Medical Products says its could be launched in Europe this summer, Chemistry and Industry reports. |
| The diseases can currently only be diagnosed once symptoms develop. | The diseases can currently only be diagnosed once symptoms develop. |
| UK experts said the test sounded promising for detecting and monitoring the diseases but more work was needed. | UK experts said the test sounded promising for detecting and monitoring the diseases but more work was needed. |
| The company plans to launch the test in Greece first, before promoting it in the US by the end of the year. | The company plans to launch the test in Greece first, before promoting it in the US by the end of the year. |
| It hopes the test could be launched in the UK early next year, if authorities are satisfied with trial results. | It hopes the test could be launched in the UK early next year, if authorities are satisfied with trial results. |
| Monitoring aid | Monitoring aid |
| The test, called NuroPro, measures levels of 59 biomarkers - proteins in the blood. | The test, called NuroPro, measures levels of 59 biomarkers - proteins in the blood. |
| The relative levels of the markers is used to distinguish between Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and another neurodegenerative disease called Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease). | |
| A blood test could be particularly useful in monitoring the progression of Parkinson's Kieran Breen, Parkinson's Disease Society | A blood test could be particularly useful in monitoring the progression of Parkinson's Kieran Breen, Parkinson's Disease Society |
| So far, more than 180 patients have been tested, with the company claiming between 60% and 70% success in identifying those with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or Lou Gehrig's. | So far, more than 180 patients have been tested, with the company claiming between 60% and 70% success in identifying those with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or Lou Gehrig's. |
| Clinical trials are under way in the US and Greece. | Clinical trials are under way in the US and Greece. |
| Steve Rash, chief executive officer of the company, said: "There is currently no diagnostic test for any neurodegenerative disease on the market - diagnoses are currently based solely on a clinical diagnosis of symptoms." | Steve Rash, chief executive officer of the company, said: "There is currently no diagnostic test for any neurodegenerative disease on the market - diagnoses are currently based solely on a clinical diagnosis of symptoms." |
| Kieran Breen, director of research at the Parkinson's Disease Society, speaking at the start of Parkinson's Awareness Week, said it was currently difficult to diagnose the condition. | Kieran Breen, director of research at the Parkinson's Disease Society, speaking at the start of Parkinson's Awareness Week, said it was currently difficult to diagnose the condition. |
| But he added: "Whilst the NuroPro test sounds promising, a larger study would need to be carried out before it can be confirmed as being helpful in making the diagnosis of Parkinson's. | But he added: "Whilst the NuroPro test sounds promising, a larger study would need to be carried out before it can be confirmed as being helpful in making the diagnosis of Parkinson's. |
| "A blood test could also be particularly useful in monitoring the progression of Parkinson's and assessing agents or drugs that modify the rate of disease development." | "A blood test could also be particularly useful in monitoring the progression of Parkinson's and assessing agents or drugs that modify the rate of disease development." |
| The society is using the awareness week to highlight the need for people with Parkinson's to receive better specialist nursing care. | The society is using the awareness week to highlight the need for people with Parkinson's to receive better specialist nursing care. |
| A survey of 13,000 people with the disease last year found 40% had not spoken to a specialist nurse in the previous year. | A survey of 13,000 people with the disease last year found 40% had not spoken to a specialist nurse in the previous year. |
| Too complex? | Too complex? |
| Susan Sorensen, head of research at the UK Alzheimer's Society, said: | Susan Sorensen, head of research at the UK Alzheimer's Society, said: |
| "An effective blood test would present those diagnosed and their families with an opportunity to prepare for the impact of this devastating illness and make crucial decisions about their future. | "An effective blood test would present those diagnosed and their families with an opportunity to prepare for the impact of this devastating illness and make crucial decisions about their future. |
| But she said: "Opinion remains split on the potential effectiveness of a blood test, with some suggesting Alzheimer's is too complex to identify in this way. | But she said: "Opinion remains split on the potential effectiveness of a blood test, with some suggesting Alzheimer's is too complex to identify in this way. |
| Dr Sorensen said the test would also need to be usable on a large scale. | Dr Sorensen said the test would also need to be usable on a large scale. |