AI Summary
This article discusses a new microscopy technique developed by researchers in Israel that can detect protein aggregation in cells, a key feature of Parkinson's disease. This method can potentially allow for diagnosis up to 20 years before the onset of motor symptoms, opening up the opportunity for early treatment or prevention of the disease. The technology combines super-resolution microscopy with computational analysis to accurately map the structure of the aggregates. The researchers hope that this approach can also be adapted for early diagnosis of other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. The team behind this study included researchers from various faculties at Tel Aviv University as well as collaborators from other medical centers and countries. This research was published in Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University cooperated with three major Israeli medical centers to develop a new method for detecting protein aggregation in cells – a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. The technology can enable diagnosis up to 20 years before the first motor symptoms appear, facilitating treatment or even prevention of the severe disease which is currently incurable. The novel approach is based on super-resolution microscopy combined with computational analysis, allowing for precise mapping of the aggregates’ molecules and structure. The researchers: “Our method can be used to identify early signs and enable preventive treatment in young people at risk for developing Parkinson’s later on in their lives. In the future the technology may also be adapted for early diagnosis of other neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s.”
The study was piloted by researchers from the School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry & Biophysics at the Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, the Sagol School of Neuroscience, and the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Tel Aviv University, led by Prof. Uri Ashery and PhD candidate Ofir Sade. Other participants included: Prof. Anat Mirelman, Prof. Avner Thaler, Prof. Nir Giladi, Prof. Roy Alcalay, Prof. Sharon Hassin, Prof. Nirit Lev, Dr. Irit Gottfried, Dr. Dana Bar-On, Dr. Meir Kestenbaum, Dr. Saar Anis, Dr. Shimon Shahar, Daphna Fischel, Dr. Noa Barak-Broner, Shir Halevi, and Dr. Aviv Gour – all from Tel Aviv University, with some also affiliated with the Tel Aviv Sourasky (Ichilov), Sheba, or Meir Medical Centers. Researchers from Germany and the USA also contributed to the study. The paper was published in Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience.
Parkinson’s disease