Brain

Structural, biochemical, or electrical abnormalities in the nervous system can lead to neurological disorders. Various brain diseases are classified based on the location and nature of these abnormalities, including dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS, and neuropathy. Alongside clinical evaluation of symptoms, laboratory diagnostics provide important supplementary information for diagnosis and treatment,

In vitro diagnostics

The following examples, organized by disease type, demonstrate how laboratory testing contributes to the detection, diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of neurological disorders.

In vitro diagnostics

• Alzheimer's Disease

  A hallmark of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of beta-amyloid and tau proteins in the brain. This accumulation progresses slowly and may continue for ten to twenty years before symptoms appear. While Alzheimer's disease is typically characterized by cognitive decline, this can have multiple causes. Therefore, diagnosis typically requires additional testing such as PET scans and/or MRI. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis provides supplementary diagnostic information.

  Alzheimer's testing

  The standard approach for detecting Alzheimer's disease in biological samples is through lumbar puncture to obtain cerebrospinal fluid. The presence or absence of specific proteins such as beta-amyloid and tau can help confirm or rule out Alzheimer's disease. Since blood sampling is less invasive and simpler than lumbar puncture, researchers are actively developing blood-based tests for Alzheimer's diagnosis. A new generation of biomarkers is being developed for early detection of the disease in blood. These blood tests are currently in the research phase.

• Encephalitis

  Encephalitis is an acute inflammation of brain tissue. Due to the close contact between the meninges and brain tissue, the meninges are usually also inflamed (meningitis). The cause is typically viral infection, though bacteria or fungi can also be responsible. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Conventional diagnostics are time-consuming (culture) and/or labor-intensive (separate detection of possible pathogens). This impedes effective, rapid, and appropriate treatment. The all-in-one test offers a solution.

  All-in-one test

  The test utilizes multiplex PCR technology in a point-of-care system. Cerebrospinal fluid obtained through lumbar puncture is placed in a cartridge for analyzer processing. The polymerase chain reaction amplifies DNA sequences from various microorganisms in a single run. This enables simultaneous detection of fifteen potential pathogens (six viruses, eight bacteria, and one fungus). Within one hour, diagnosis can be established and appropriate treatment initiated.

• Parkinson's Disease

  Brain cell communication occurs under the influence of dopamine. Parkinson's disease is characterized by the degradation of dopamine-producing brain cells. Reduced production disrupts communication, potentially leading to rigidity, movement difficulties, and/or tremors. Diagnosis is based on clinical examination and brain scans. While the disease is incurable, medication (dopamine) can alleviate symptoms.

  Parkinson's testing

  Currently, no tests are available to detect Parkinson's disease in biological samples, but alpha-synuclein protein has been described as a potential biomarker. This protein has been detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of diagnosed patients. Clinical studies have shown its presence in the cerebrospinal fluid of individuals with symptoms suggesting early-stage disease. Other research has demonstrated that alpha-synuclein is also detectable in tear fluid. These findings offer promising prospects for developing a simple laboratory test for early Parkinson's disease detection.

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