An estimated 10 million people worldwide live with Parkinson’s disease – a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain called the substantia nigra and reduces the brain’s ability to control movement and balance.
Since the 1980s, the number of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s has steadily increased, with a marked acceleration in the past two decades partly attributed to an ageing population worldwide, as the disease predominantly affects older adults. While the exact cause of Parkinson’s remains unclear, researchers have identified several biological processes and molecular indicators that may contribute to its onset.
These indicators, known as ‘biomarkers’ – which include proteins, chemicals and other molecules that indicate normal or abnormal processes in the body – are becoming an increasingly powerful tool in the early detection of numerous conditions including various cancers, as well as liver and heart diseases.
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