New Parkinson’s Test Will Lead to Earlier Diagnoses
A decade-long study that cost more than $500 million will have a significant payoff for patients.
Michael J. Fox speaks at the 2023 SXSW Conference on March 14, 2023 in Austin, Texas.
Photographer: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images North AmericaParkinson’s researchers have been desperate for a simple test for the neurodegenerative disease — particularly one that could diagnose it early, when therapies could have the biggest impact. A new study suggests scientists might have landed on the right diagnostic. Although more work is needed, this is a critical step toward better treatment and prevention.
It’s also an important reminder of the value of investing in ambitious, long-term science that can truly transform a field. The Michael J. Fox Foundation put more than $500 million over a decade into its broader efforts toward finding a good way to detect Parkinson’s disease. Sometimes answering big questions simply requires that kind of leap of faith.