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Blood test that could head off brain diseases
By DAVID DERBYSHIRE - More by this author »

Last updated at 20:56pm on 15th January 2008

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A blood test is being developed that identifies youngsters most likely to suffer brain diseases later in life.

Within a few years doctors will be able to prescribe drugs to slow down the onset of Parkinson's and motor neurone diseases. Potential sufferers will also be encouraged to take up appropriate diets and lifestyles.


The key to the breakthrough is a series of genetic mutations that point to brain diseases.

The blood test will identify youngsters most likely to suffer brain diseases in later life



The blood test will identify youngsters most likely to suffer brain diseases in later life


One set shows if someone is at greater than normal risk of developing Parkinson's, which causes shakes, stiffness and slow movement.


Another set highlights those vulnerable to a form of motor neurone disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS.


Dr Demetrius Maraganore, who is leading the study at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said: 'Our mission is to predict, prevent and halt brain ageing disorders.


"I can see a day when we will be able to do a simple blood test and predict whether a person is at high risk of ALS, Parkinson's disease and even Alzheimer's by studying common gene variations in disease pathways.


"In persons at high risk, we may be able to prevent the diseases or slow their progress by developing drugs that target the same disease pathways.


"For ALS and Parkinson's, our study is a major step in this direction."


Dr Maraganore told the journal Public Library of Science One that the tell-tale genes were found by comparing the DNA profiles of patients with ALS and Parkinson's disease with people without the disease.


Both are caused when nerve cells fail to communicate properly.


Those with one set of genetic mutations are 2,000 times more likely than normal to develop ALS.


Those with the other set are 400 times more likely than normal to suffer from Parkinson's disease, the researchers discovered.

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