Results from the PPMI Study on an Alpha-Synuclein Seed Amplification Assay

Media Contact: Shea Higgins +1 304-633-3396, shiggins@movementdisorders.org 

MILWAUKEE, WI, USA – An alpha-synuclein seed amplification assay (SAA) showed positive detection results in prodromal cases of Parkinson’s disease according to a study released today at the International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders® in Madrid, Spain. 

Development of tests to detect biomarkers for Parkinson’s disease (PD) are highly sought after to help with clinical care for potential PD patients. Biomarkers, such as alpha-synuclein, can aid in early diagnosis and risk assessment for PD development.  

The Parkinson Progression Marker Initiative (PPMI) is a large observational study consisting of phenotyped PD patients, individuals at risk for developing PD, and healthy controls. Siderowf et al. sought to evaluate the efficiency of an alpha-synuclein SAA (developed by Amprion) on cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) samples from these groups of individuals. A total of 1,139 participants were included in this study. Sensitivity and specificity of the SAA was assessed and showed the highest accuracy in typical PD patients but was still found to show positive results in majority of prodromal cases.  

Tiago Outeiro, Professor and Director of the Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration at the University Medical Center Göttingen, responded to this study, “Recent advances in biochemical and imaging markers are opening novel perspectives for improving both the diagnosis, the definition, and the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. In this context, the PPMI study emerges as a global effort that holds great promise for a wide range of analyses. Using CSF samples from 1,139 cases, this research consortium assessed the value of an alpha-synuclein seed amplification assay (SAA) in a large cohort of patients with PD, individuals at-risk for PD and healthy controls. This is the major strength of this study, as previous efforts used a much smaller number of samples. The study confirmed the sensitivity and specificity of the SAA assay, as well as the ability to detect alpha-synuclein amplification in the CSF prodromal cases. Importantly, the study indicates that SAA will be an important tool to aid in the establishment of cohorts suitable for observational and interventional studies.”

Full abstract text: movementdisorders.org/2022-Congress-LBAs. Reference #: LBA-7
 

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About the 2022 MDS International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders®:
The MDS International Congress is the premier annual event to advance the clinical and scientific discipline of Movement Disorders, including Parkinson’s disease. Convening thousands of leading clinicians, scientists and other health professionals from around the globe, the International Congress will introduce more than 1,500 original scientific abstracts and provide a forum for education and collaboration on latest research findings and state-of-the-art treatment options. 

About the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society: 
The International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS), an international society of over 11,000 clinicians, scientists, and other healthcare professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. For more information about MDS, visit www.movementdisorders.org.