Brain scientists have made a breakthrough that could help diagnose Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy - also referred to as MSA - much earlier.
The two diseases are often mistaken for one another in the early stages, which can lead to MSA patients being given the Parkinson's drug, which not only fails to help, but can worsen symptoms in some cases.
But researchers at the University of Auckland's Centre for Brain Research - Dr Victor Dieriks and Dr James Wiseman - alongside University of Sydney Professor Glenda Halliday have discovered distinct differences in a brain tissue protein - that lets them tell the difference between the two diseases.
The protein clumps differently in the brains of people with Parkinson's and MSA, and the levels in MSA are far higher.
Their discovery could pave the way for a simple, non-invasive test, such as a nasal swab, blood test, or urine sample, to reliably tell the two conditions apart.
Dr Victor Dieriks and Dr James Wiseman discuss.
Photo: Supplied by Auckland University
