Completed

Investigation of Biomarkers in Parkinson's Disease

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What is being collected

Data Collection

Who is being recruted

Synucleinopathies+6

+ Basal Ganglia Diseases

+ Brain Diseases

See all eligibility criteria
How is the trial designed

Observational
Study Start: July 2004
See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Last updated: January 14, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: July 1, 2004

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

OBJECTIVE: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of unknown etiology in which several underlying pathophysiological mechanisms including proteasomal degradation, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, oxidative stress, and excitotoxicity may contribute to cell death. No treatment is known to cure or delay progression of PD, thus there is a need to investigate measurable biologic markers for the purpose of diagnosis, monitoring disease progression and effect of treatment. This study will focus on alpha synuclein and its metabolic pathways as a potential biomarker, to assist in evaluation of pathogenesis and future diagnostic and therapeutic options. STUDY POPULATION: In this pilot study we plan to include 30 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), 30 patients with Parkinson plus disorders, and 30 control patients without neurologic disease or autoimmune disorders. DESIGN: Samples of serum, plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) will be collected from all patients for analysis at the beginning of the study. The assay will be performed for various proteins including cytokines primarily related to the alpha synuclein (AS) pathway. A repeat CSF, plasma and serum analysis will be performed in patients with PD, and Parkinson plus disorders at the end of one and two years to follow changes of protein expression profiles with disease progression. ASSESSMENT OF RISKS AND BENEFITS: This study will carry the risk associated with venepuncture and lumbar puncture. OUTCOME ESTIMATE AND POTENTIAL MEANING FOR THE FIELD: The primary outcome measure is to correlate the changes of alpha synuclein phosphorylation in CSF, plasma and serum with changes in UPDRS motor score in patients with PD over the period of 2 years, compared to controls. The secondary aim of the study is to compare the protein expression profiles between different synucleinopathies including PD, Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) with time. There are currently no validated surrogate disease markers in PD or other related neurodegenerative disorders. Our work would hopefully help understand pathophysiologic mechanisms in patients with PD, monitor disease progression using specific biologic markers, and in future development of targeted therapies.

Official TitleInvestigation of Biomarkers in Parkinson's Disease 
NCT00088335
Principal SponsorNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Last updated: January 14, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details

90 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

Healthy volunteers not allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

SynucleinopathiesBasal Ganglia DiseasesBrain DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesMovement DisordersNervous System DiseasesParkinson DiseaseNeurodegenerative DiseasesParkinsonian Disorders

Criteria

INCLUSION CRITERIA Patients between ages 18 to 80 years who are able to give informed consent. Before any study related procedure is undertaken, the subject or his representative must sign a consent form. In those individuals with dementia, a legal guardian will need to sign the consent form prior to any procedure. EXCLUSION CRITERIA Medical disorders such as lupus, diabetes, serious heart and kidney disease, thyroid dysfunction and any chronic medical illness with the exception of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Patients with any history of bleeding diatheses or abnormal platelets or PT/PTT. Patients using anticoagulants and other drugs which can alter PT/PTT. Patients with evidence of elevated intracranial pressure based on the imaging studies. Pregnant women Children

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 1 location

Suspended

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Bethesda, United StatesSee the location
CompletedOne Study Center