Scientists finally see what sparks Parkinson’s

Science DailyCenterEN 4 min read 100% complete October 24, 2025 at 04:58 PM

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Researchers from the University of Cambridge, UCL, the Francis Crick Institute, and Polytechnique Montréal have developed a new imaging technique called ASA-PD that allows for the direct visualization and measurement of alpha-synuclein oligomers in human brain tissue, which are thought to trigger Parkinson's disease. This breakthrough, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, enables scientists to observe these microscopic protein clusters, previously undetectable due to their size, potentially transforming how Parkinson's is studied and treated. The technique could lead to earlier diagnosis and more targeted therapies for the condition, affecting over 166,000 people in the UK alone, with global cases expected to reach 25 million by 2050.

Key Topics & Entities

Polytechnique Montréal 60% Francis Crick Institute 70% University of Cambridge ×280% Lewy bodies ×280% Nature Biomedical Engineering 90% Parkinson's disease ×6100%

Keywords

parkinson's disease 100% alpha-synuclein oligomers 90% protein clusters 80% neurological condition 70% imaging approach 60% fluorescence microscopy 50% advanced sensing of aggregates for parkinson's disease (asa-pd) 50% lewy bodies 40%

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parkinson's disease alpha-synuclein oligomers protein clusters neurological condition imaging approach fluorescence microscopy advanced sensing of aggregates for parkinson's disease (asa-pd)lewy bodies

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