Alberto J. Espay, MD, MSc, discusses a new biological definition of Parkinson's disease that is based on pathology identified through spinal fluid testing. The test uses the principles of supersaturation to detect aggregated synuclein, which is associated with Parkinson's disease pathology.
However, Dr Espay cautions that pathology does not equate to disease, as some individuals may have the pathology without having the disease itself. Dr Espay contends that the test accurately identifies pathology but does not provide information on disease severity, prognosis, or treatment efficacy, and warns against using this test to biologically define or stage Parkinson's disease, as it could lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
