Is there a test to diagnose Parkinson’s? There has been a lot of news recently about biomarkers and possible new ways of testing for Parkinson’s disease (PD).  To understand the latest biomarker news and progress, join the webinar on Thursday, May 9, 11am PT, hosted by the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA).  The speaker is Dr. David Standaert, a national leader in PD research and clinical care.   Take advantage of the opportunity to hear firsthand from this esteemed expert!  This is part of the APDA’s “Spotlight on Parkinson’s Disease” webinar series.  

A biomarker is a measurable characteristic in the body that indicates that disease is present. For example, there are various tumor markers that can identify cancer, and hemoglobin A1c can help identify diabetes. For a long while, there were no reliable biomarkers for PD, but the biomarker landscape has been rapidly evolving over the last few years.

Biomarker progress is very exciting. Finding a reliable test to diagnose PD could lead to early detection that would enable timely intervention, potentially slowing disease progression and improving outcomes; it could help better distinguish Parkinson’s from other similar conditions, preventing misdiagnosis and ensuring appropriate treatment; it could also facilitate clinical trials for new therapies, expediting the development of more effective treatments.

About the webinar

In this webinar, you will learn:

• Why are biomarkers for PD so important?
• Are there tests that can determine whether I have PD?
• If so, why hasn’t my doctor ordered one and should I ask to get one?
• Can a skin biopsy or lumbar puncture determine if I have PD?
• What are the limitations of these tests?

Register today to reserve your spot!

About the speaker

Dr. David Standaert is the Chairman of APDA’s Scientific Advisory Board.  And he is Professor and Chair of Neurology at University of Alabama, Birmingham.  He has led and continues to lead multiple exciting avenues of research exploration, most recently, the role of inflammation in PD.  He is a true authority in the field of clinical trials in PD.  The APDA is honored to have him speak at this webinar.  

APDA resources on this topic

Read the APDA’s recent blog about biomarkers and their role in disease staging.

Explore some of the biomarker research APDA has funded including Dr. Stephan Grimaldi’s search for an MRI-based biomarker and Dr. Xianjun Dong’s search for an RNA biomarker.