Biosensors developed by researchers from the University of Coimbra advance early detection of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide and progresses over several years. It is typically diagnosed based on cardinal signs such as resting tremor, slowness of movement, and muscle stiffness. However, these symptoms often appear at a more advanced stage of the disease, making early diagnosis a critical priority.

The project OLIGOFIT - Oligomer-Focused Screening and Individualized Therapeutics to target Neurodegenerative Disorders, conducted at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC), has provided valuable insights into the development of disease detection strategies based on known protein biomarkers and their aggregation

Parkinson's disease is one of several conditions collectively known as synucleinopathies, which are closely associated with the presence of α-synuclein, a presynaptic neuronal protein responsible for the abnormal accumulation of protein clumps that interfere with brain function. Professor Goreti Sales, from the Department of Chemical Engineering (DEQ) and the Centre for Mechanical, Materials and Process Engineering (CEMMPRE), states, "The project focuses on this protein's ability to adopt different forms according to its aggregation, which influences the progression of the disease."

The researcher highlights the potential of these biosensors as a valuable tool for monitoring disease progression in the future. "If a doctor prescribes a drug to slow down symptoms, the biosensors would be able to assess its effect on the clumping of these aggregates, even before the patient experiences the drug's effects."

This research, conducted by a multidisciplinary team, marks a significant advance in understanding Parkinson's disease and developing personalised therapies for this devastating disease.

The OLIGOFIT project, led by the University of Oxford, also involved researchers from the Universities of Aarhus (Denmark), Coimbra (Portugal), Göttingen (Germany) and Warsaw (Poland), as well as the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (Latvia).