Blood test may Detect Parkinson’s Disease early
Updated May 29, 2025
A new study reveals that a blood-based genetic signature may offer a breakthrough in early Parkinson’s disease detection. Researchers at Université de Montréal, led by Martine Tétreault, have identified specific immune cell biomarkers that distinguish Parkinson’s from other similar conditions.
The research,published in the journal Brain,used single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze blood samples from Parkinson’s patients. The team discovered that immune cells in Parkinson’s patients exhibited activated genes linked to stress responses. This unique genetic signature could pave the way for earlier and more accurate diagnoses.
“We found that in Parkinson’s patients, immune cells in the blood were activated and overexpressed genes associated with stress responses,” Tétreault said. “Together,these biomarkers form the signature of the disease.”
The study involved analyzing blood samples from 14 patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s, six patients with Parkinsonian syndromes, and a control group of 10 healthy individuals.The genetic signature successfully differentiated between Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonian syndromes like progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and multiple system atrophy (MSA).
In our study, the gene signature of the disease allowed us to distinguish between patients with Parkinson’s disease and those with Parkinsonian syndromes. These biomarkers could improve diagnostic reliability or facilitate participant selection for clinical trials testing the efficacy of a drug for this disease.
What’s next
Tétreault’s team is now making a comprehensive atlas of immune system cellular subtypes available to other researchers, which should accelerate the search for new treatments and diagnostic tools for Parkinson’s disease. With the number of Canadians living with Parkinson’s expected to rise from 110,000 in 2024 to 150,000 by 2034, the need for improved diagnostics is critical.
