A saliva gland test for Parkinson’s disease?

Described as a big step forward for research and treatment of Parkinsons disease, new research from Mayo Clinic in Arizona and Banner Sun Health Research Institute suggests that testing a portion of a persons saliva gland may be a way to diagnose the disease. The study was released last week and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurologys 65th Annual Meeting March 16 to 23 in San Diego.

There is currently no diagnostic test for Parkinsons disease, said study author Charles Adler, a neurologist with Mayo Clinic in Arizona. We have previously shown in autopsies of Parkinsons patients that the abnormal proteins associated with Parkinsons are consistently found in the submandibular saliva glands, found under the lower jaw. This is the first study demonstrating the value of testing a portion of the saliva gland to diagnose a living person with Parkinsons disease. Making a diagnosis in living patients is a big step forward in our effort to understand and better treat patients.

The study involved 15 people with an average age of 68 who had Parkinsons disease for an average of 12 years, responded to Parkinsons medication and did not have known saliva gland disorders. Biopsies were taken of two different saliva glands: the submandibular gland and the minor saliva glands in the lower lip. The surgical team was led by Michael Hinni and David Lott, physicians at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, and the biopsied tissues were tested for evidence of the abnormal Parkinsons protein by study co-author Thomas Beach, physician with Banner Sun Health Research Institute.

This procedure will provide a much more accurate diagnosis of Parkinsons disease than what is now available, Beach said. One of the greatest potential impacts of this finding is on clinical trials, as at the present time some patients entered into Parkinsons clinical trials do not necessarily have Parkinsons disease and this is a big impediment to testing new therapies.

The abnormal Parkinsons protein was detected in nine of the 11 patients who had enough tissue to study. While still being analyzed, the rate of positive findings in the biopsies of the lower lip glands appears much lower than for the lower jaw gland.

This study provides the first direct evidence for the use of submandibular gland biopsies as a diagnostic test for living patients with Parkinsons disease, Adler said. This finding may be of great use when needing definitive proof of Parkinsons disease, especially when considering performing invasive procedures such as deep brain stimulation surgery or gene therapy.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. It develops gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. But while tremor may be the most well-known sign of Parkinson's disease, the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement. No tests exist to diagnose Parkinson's disease. Now diagnosis is made based on medical history, a review of signs and symptoms, a neurological and physical examination, and by ruling out other conditions. Yet, up to 30 percent of patients may be misdiagnosed early in the disease.

Although Parkinson's disease can't be cured, medications may markedly improve symptoms.

This study was funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research.

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A saliva gland test for Parkinson’s disease?