Serum Autoantibodies as Biomarkers for Parkinson's Disease: Background and Utility

There are no definitive diagnostic tests for early detection, diagnosis and staging of Parkinson's disease (PD). Available methods have thus far failed to yield high accuracy, are expensive, and can be highly invasive to the patient. The use of serum biomarkers for the diagnosis of early-stage PD has the potential to provide an accurate, inexpensive, and non-invasive alternative to conventional tests. Recently, investigations into the role of the immune system in the development of PD and other diseases have led to the identification of potential PD-specific autoantibodies. This mini review focuses on the background and utility of these autoantibodies as diagnostic biomarkers of PD. Advantages of serum biomarkers as well as potential benefits of a blood-based diagnostic test to clinical medicine are discussed.