Over the past few weeks, scientists in collaboration with the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) published results of a groundbreaking new diagnostic test in Lancet Neurology. The test involves analyzing cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that protects the brain and spinal cord) for unusual aggregation of alpha-synuclein protein. This build-up is closely correlated with Parkinson's disease symptoms and could even be the first biological marker to present years before a formal diagnosis is otherwise possible.
What you really need to know:
- Alpha-synuclein has been a key focus of research for some years involving prevention and early diagnosis. Until now there has been a paucity of accurate diagnostic tests.
- Parkinson's is only formally diagnosed if at least 3 typical motor symptoms are detectable so it remains largely a clinical diagnosis. Traditional motor symptoms such as slowness of movement, rigidity and tremor only appear after 70-80% of the brain's dopamine-producing cells have been lost, which is suboptimal.
- These alpha-synuclein proteins are detectable in the gut for years and sometimes decades before they are apparent in the brain or spinal cord. This likely explains why for a large segment of the Parkinson's population, their initial symptoms aren't tremor or rigidity, but rather constipation, sleep disturbances and loss of smell. (These are all symptoms which may be improved by SYMBYX light therapy)
- While this announcement is important, testing cerebrospinal fluid is an invasive procedure requiring a lumbar puncture. It is probably still many years off before this kind of test is made widely available in a far less invasive form – perhaps through a blood test?
- Further breakthroughs: A research team, led by Dr. Gültekin Tamgüney at the University of Dusseldorf, showed that alpha-synuclein proteins could be effectively analysed via stool sample. This is the same kind of test that is also used to test the microbiome.
How does SYMBYX fit in?
These recent breakthroughs highlight once again how important the gut is to PD.
SYMBYX is the building evidence (starting with the BMC Neurology publication in 2019) that our range of personal 904nm lasers reduces inflammation, slows gut lining degradation (when used with the SYMBYX PD protocol) and promotes healing and repair, known to influence both aggregation and passage of alpha-synuclein clumps towards the brain.
Although further research is needed, this may also explain why the SYMBYX lasers are now believed to be 'neuroprotective', as at the 3-year follow-up mark, consistent trial participants have been rewarded with little symptom progression.
Many customers already report improvements in issues such as sleep, constipation, sense of smell, brain fog, balance, and putting their socks on in the morning.
You don't have to wait to begin getting relief from your Parkinson's symptoms. The SYMBYX PDCare and DuoCare 904 lasers are both ARTG listed and CE-marked medical lasers, approved for home-use without a medical referral. All SYMBYX devices include free international shipping.
Take control back of your gut health and PD today.