Silicon chip could help diagnose genetic forms of Parkinson’s Disease

From Melbourne, Australia comes a Silicon-based chip that might one day help scientiests and doctors with the early diagnoses of Parkinson’s disease. Melbourne scientists have started diagnostic testing the 17 genes they believe to be causes of the neurological disorder.

If tests show to be successful, the $500 genetic test could make previous measures obsolete, which were also a lot more expensive. The new technology relies on a gene-sequencing chip less than half the size of a matchbook and should one day be able to tell the patient how quickly their disease will progress and what treatment would work best for them.

Current tests cost more then $4000, but the new chip could predict childrens risk of acquiring the disease for a mere percentage of that price. Scientists also hope to further narrow down or expand on the list of 17 genes they believe to be involved. Roger Norton, chief executive of Parkinson’s Australia, who himself has the disease says “It can be alarming because you’ve got the shakes and your arms and legs don’t work properly and you don’t know why. A test that can help with diagnosis is a marvelous development.” Indeed it is. — Andrew Dobrow

Aussie first for Parkinson’s disease [News.com.au]