New research offers hope for treating Parkinson's disease

Reviewed by James Ives, M.Psych. (Editor)Aug 17 2020

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has published, on August 12, the results of a research project conducted jointly by Cardiocentro Ticino and the EOC Neurocentro, which delivers a message of hope in the fight against Parkinson's disease, as well as providing encouraging news for the USI Faculty of Biomedical Sciences.

The study focuses on the analysis of blood plasma microvesicles (exosomes), which could allow the disease to be detected at a very early stage, favouring more effective therapeutic approaches. The new method, non-invasive and economical, requires a simple blood sample.

The research was made possible by a close collaboration between the laboratories of the Neurocentro of the Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC) and Cardiocentro Ticino - both of which are directly involved in the training activities of the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences of the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI).

The research project is the subject of the thesis work of Elena Vacchi, PhD student in Neuroscience at USI, and Jacopo Burrello, visiting PhD student at the University of Turin at Cardiocentro.

Towards an early testing of the disease

Today, the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease occurs at an advanced stage of its clinical manifestations, a limitation that significantly affects the therapeutic approach.

The analysis of exosomes in plasma - as proven by studies conducted in the laboratories in Ticino - could lead the way to an early testing of the disease, at a stage in which the inflammatory process that originates it is already occurring.

As the researchers point out, this is a revolutionary approach to the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. It is also an absolutely non-invasive, painless and inexpensive method, as it requires a simple peripheral blood sample.

The study and the collaboration network

The study, published in Neurology: Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation, a journal of the American Academy of Neurology, was jointly conducted by the Parkinson's research group headed by PD Dr. med. Giorgia Melli and Prof. Dr. med. Alain Kaelin at the Laboratory of Biomedical Neuroscience (LBN) of the EOC Neurocentro in Taverne and the Cardiocentro Ticino research group directed by PD Dr. Lucio Barile in collaboration with Prof. Giuseppe Vassalli.

Besides the scientific value of the research and our satisfaction for the recognition. I think it is important to reflect on the added value of a synergy between apparently distant research fields - neurology and cardiology - which nevertheless manage to find original and very interesting developments in the daily and transparent comparison of their respective works, a condition that has been positively achieved in recent years in our joint laboratories in Taverne."

Dr med Alain Kaelin, Professr and Medical and Scientific Director, Neurocentro EOC

Dr Alain si also a full professor at USI.