A group of Canadian researchers have discovered a new brain chemical called ADTIQ that appears to be linked to Parkinson’s disease. The small study revealed that ADTIQ was present in high concentrations in the brains of four Parkinson’s patients who had died, but in much lower concentrations in the brains of three people who did not have the disease. Study authors Drs. Yulin Deng and Ali M. Rajput believe the chemical could serve as a potential marker for the disease, possibly enabling doctors to diagnose the disease much earlier than is currently possible. At present, there is no biological test for the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Raiput, who was presenting the study findings at the annual meeting of the American Neurological Association, said: “If we can find a way to measure this substance in the blood, spinal fluid or urine, then we can diagnose Parkinson’s disease early.”
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.reutershealth.com on the 2nd October 2001
