Power3 Medical Products is hoping to be the first to market a blood test which can detect early signs of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease in the US and in Europe this summer (2008), Chemistry and Industry reports.

There is currently no diagnostic test for any neurodegenerative disease on the market - diagnoses are currently based solely on a clinical diagnosis of symptoms. 

The test, called NuroPro, measures levels of 59 biomarkers - proteins in the blood. The relative levels of the markers is used to distinguish between Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and another neurodegenerative disease called Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease).

An effective blood test would present those diagnosed and their families with an opportunity to prepare for the impact of this devastating illness and make crucial decisions about their future.

So far, more than 180 patients have been tested, with the company claiming between 60% and 70% success in identifying those with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease or Lou Gehrig's.

Clinical trials are under way in the US and Greece.  

About Parkinson's Disease 

Parkinson's disease is a disorder that affects nerve cells, or neurons, in a part of the brain that controls muscle movement.  In Parkinson's, neurons that make a chemical called dopamine die or do not work properly. Dopamine normally sends signals that help coordinate your movements. No one knows what damages these cells. 

• Tremors, rigidity,
  
• Slow movement (bradykinesia),
• Poor balance, and
• Difficulty walking (called parkinsonian gait).
  

The cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, however there are many researchers that believe that there are identifiable causes of the disease.  Researchers believe that several of the following  factors combined are involved: genetic predisposition, environmental toxins, free radicals and  accelerated aging.

Roughly one-fifth of Parkinson's disease patients have at least one relative with parkinsonian symptoms, suggesting that a genetic factor may be involved. Several genes that cause symptoms in younger patients have been identified. Most researchers believe, however, that most cases are not caused by genetic factors alone.

Exposure to an environmental toxins, such as lead or pesticides, that inhibits dopamine production and produces free radicals and oxidation damage may be involved.

It may be that free radicals—unstable and potentially damaging molecules that lack on electron—are involved in the degeneration of dopamine-producing cells.It is believed that iIf antioxidative action fails to protect dopamine-producing nerve cells, these cells could be damaged and, subsequently, Parkinson's disease could develop. Dysfunctional antioxidative mechanisms are associated with older age as well, suggesting that the acceleration of age-related changes in dopamine production may be a factor.

About Alzheimer's Disease 

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a slowly progressive disease of the brain that is characterized by impairment of memory and eventually by disturbances in reasoning, planning, language, and perception. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, which afflicts 24 million people worldwide. Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging and is not something that inevitably happens in later life. It is rarely seen before the age of 65. The likelihood of having Alzheimer's disease increases substantially after the age of 70 and may affect around 50% of persons over the age of 85.