Researchers at Rockefeller University have identified significant changes in RNA molecules found in the blood of living Parkinson’s patients and in the brains of individuals who have died with the disease. These findings point toward new avenues for early diagnosis and intervention aimed at reducing or delaying the onset of major symptoms.
In the initial phase of the work, brain tissue was analyzed from 35 individuals who had Parkinson’s disease at the time of death and were compared with 40 neurologically healthy controls. The study revealed widespread alterations in brain gene activity associated with Parkinson’s disease, and for the first time a direct link was established between specific molecular changes and the clinical symptoms experienced by patients.
Researchers also observed impaired integrity of brain blood vessels in patients who exhibited involuntary motor symptoms. They found accelerated aging in cells lining the brain’s vascular system. In a related region, changes in the growth patterns of cells that form a protective sheath around nerve fibers were detected. The team noted that therapies currently under investigation to slow brain cell aging in other neurodegenerative diseases might offer a potential strategy for Parkinson’s disease as well, should such approaches prove effective.
The second phase of the study examined blood samples from 479 individuals with Parkinson’s disease and 195 healthy controls. The investigators found that the levels of hundreds of RNA molecules differed markedly in the blood of patients, and these peripheral changes mirrored the molecular alterations observed in the brain samples from the first part of the study. This parallel suggests a possible blood-based biomarker signature for Parkinson’s disease and supports the use of noninvasive tests to aid in diagnosis and monitoring.
Parkinson’s disease ranks as the second most common neurodegenerative disorder globally after Alzheimer’s disease. It stems from the death of dopamine-producing neurons in a brain region called the substantia nigra. Dopamine is involved not only in pleasure but also in motivation, memory, cognition, and movement. Classic symptoms include tremors and stiffness, which emerge only after a substantial loss of dopamine neurons. Early detection, particularly before the age of 50, could improve outcomes by enabling timely interventions that may slow disease progression.
The study highlights a potential shift in how Parkinson’s disease could be diagnosed and treated. By mapping RNA changes in both brain tissue and blood, scientists are moving toward a more precise, molecularly informed view of the disease that can guide future therapies and improve patient care.