A protein called Neurofilament Light Chain can help identify early signs of Parkinson's and dementia.

Research from Nagoya University shows that high levels of a protein called neurofilament light chain in the blood can indicate early-stage Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies before symptoms appear. Other proteins linked to Alzheimer’s were only elevated in patients who already had symptoms of these diseases. This suggests neurofilament light chain could be an early marker for these conditions, potentially aiding early diagnosis and treatment. Researchers tested blood samples from patients and found that while Alzheimer’s biomarkers were not elevated in high-risk individuals, neurofilament light chain levels were abnormally high.