A Skin Test for Lewy Body and Parkinson's Dementia
Peripheral Tissue Biomarker for Premortem Diagnosis of Lewy Body Dementia
This project aims to create a simple test using skin samples to help identify Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's disease dementia earlier and more accurately.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11192788 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Currently, it's challenging to tell the difference between Lewy body dementia, Parkinson's disease dementia, and other memory conditions like Alzheimer's disease, often requiring a brain examination after death for a definite answer. This can lead to misdiagnosis and delays in getting the right care. Our team is developing a new test that looks for specific proteins in easily accessible tissues like skin, which could provide a clear diagnosis while a person is still living. This approach uses a special technology to detect tiny amounts of these disease-related proteins.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be individuals experiencing symptoms of dementia or Parkinson's disease who need a more precise diagnosis.
Not a fit: Patients with other forms of dementia not related to Lewy bodies or Parkinson's disease may not directly benefit from this specific diagnostic approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide a much-needed tool for early and accurate diagnosis of Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's disease dementia, helping patients receive appropriate care sooner.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary studies using this method have shown promising results in detecting disease-related proteins in skin samples from patients with Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's disease.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Shu G. — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Chen, Shu G.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.