Breakthrough study finds subtle new early symptoms of Parkinson’s to watch out for
How mice are helping detect early signs of Parkinson’s
- Chinese scientists have identified subtle new early signs of Parkinson's disease in mice, potentially enabling much earlier diagnosis in humans.
- Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that behaviours such as rearing, walking, and hunching in mice are linked to Parkinson's and the loss of specific midbrain dopamine neurons.
- The study revealed that reductions in rearing and hunching correlate directly with the loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), a midbrain region.
- An advanced artificial intelligence behaviour analysis system was employed to meticulously examine the movements of mouse models with dopamine neuron depletion.
- These findings underscore the potential for monitoring such subtle behaviours as early markers to track Parkinson's progression and improve treatment strategies.