Doctors have started using a skin test called Syn-One to help diagnosis Parkinson's disease. It can detect a protein key to Parkinson's called alpha synuclein in a few sharp pokes. The entire test takes about 15 minutes at the bedside is relatively painless.

Washington

Medical professionals have initiated the use of a novel skin test named Syn-One for the early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. This test aims to detect the presence of a protein crucial to Parkinson's, known as alpha synuclein, through a method described as requiring just a few sharp pokes. With the test being conducted at the bedside and taking approximately 15 minutes to complete, it is characterized as relatively painless for patients.



New skin test used to detect Parkinson's early

Right, left, right. John Shore of Bainbridge Island, Washington, has hit the gym three times a week for 45 years. Not quite like I'm going to leave, but. After a Parkinson's diagnosis, the workouts hit different. My brother had Parkinson's quite badly. And when he died, he was totally frozen up, falling all the time. And so for me, it was confirmation that I really didn't want. But in a roundabout way, that positive test is a positive thing for patients like John. A test called SYN1 can detect a protein key to Parkinson's called alpha-synuclein in a few sharp pokes. These are the tools we use. Primarily, this instrument, it's called a punch. The entire test takes about 15 minutes at the bedside. It's relatively painless. We numb the skin with lidocaine. Three punches take biopsies of skin from the ankle, calf, and behind the neck. They go to CND Life Sciences, who provided us this video of their lab. The test cost about $1,500 out of pocket. Traditionally, doctors diagnose Parkinson's first by symptoms, freezing when walking, stiffness, tremors. But research shows 20% of patients can be wrongly diagnosed with Parkinson's. Neurologist Dr. Praveen Kamani uses the SYN1 test for his patients alongside his evaluation. Because the disease is so different in different individuals, and it evolves gradually over time, there can be a delay in the diagnosis. Earlier diagnosis means earlier treatment. New research in the respected medical journal JAMA shows the test correctly caught the Parkinson's protein in 93% of people already diagnosed with Parkinson's. Back at John Shore's gym, the workouts continue with his Parkinson's specialized trainer. With Parkinson's, there's a lot of rigidity, stiffness, kind of uncontrollable movement, and balance issues. We want to continue to do a lot of big, exaggerated movements to kind of keep those movement patterns kind of instilled in their brain. While his positive test was like a punch to the gut, he says it's motivating him to punch back for his health. I want to continue to live independently. I want to be able to drive. And I want to stay in my house as long as I can. So it's very important to me to push this regimen as hard as I can. He takes medication daily, too. Research shows earlier treatment means better long-term outcomes for Parkinson's patients. That's why he plans to keep fighting for his independence as long as he can. Lindsey Theis-Scripps, News, Bainbridge Island, Washington.

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