Hyposmia: a possible biomarker of Parkinson’s disease

Neural Basis of Hyposmia in Alzheimer’s Disease

Role of microRNA as a biomarker in Alzheimer’s disease

Introduction: MicroRNAs are small, non-coding, and protected RNA molecules that regulate gene expression after transcription by mRNA degradation or inhibition of protein synthesis. The function of these molecules is critical to many cellular processes, including growth, development, differentiation, homeostasis, apoptosis, aging, stress resistance. In addition, some diseases including cancer, a...

Oxidized DJ-1 as a possible biomarker of Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson's disease is a progressive, age-related, neurodegenerative disorder, and oxidative stress is an important mediator in its pathogenesis. DJ-1 is a causative gene of a familial form of Parkinson's disease, namely PARK7, and plays a significant role in antioxidative defense to protect the cells from oxidative stress. DJ-1 undergoes preferential oxidation at the cysteine residue at positi...

Idiopathic hyposmia as a preclinical sign of Parkinson's disease.

Olfactory dysfunction is an early and common symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD). In an effort to determine whether otherwise unexplained (idiopathic) olfactory dysfunction is associated with an increased risk of developing PD, we designed a prospective study in a cohort of 361 asymptomatic relatives (parents, siblings, or children) of PD patients. A combination of olfactory detection, identifi...

Digitized Spiral Drawing: A Possible Biomarker for Early Parkinson’s Disease

INTRODUCTION Pre-clinical markers of Parkinson's Disease (PD) are needed, and to be relevant in pre-clinical disease, they should be quantifiably abnormal in early disease as well. Handwriting is impaired early in PD and can be evaluated using computerized analysis of drawn spirals, capturing kinematic, dynamic, and spatial abnormalities and calculating indices that quantify motor performance a...