CITY, State (Fox News) — Study Finds Blood Test Can Detect Early Parkinson’s Disease Signs

## Key Facts:
A study from Chalmers University of Technology and Oslo University Hospital discovered biomarkers of Parkinson’s disease in the blood up to 20 years before symptoms appear.
The researchers used machine learning to identify patterns linked to DNA repair and cellular stress response processes in early-stage Parkinson’s patients.
Blood tests could become common for early Parkinson’s diagnosis within five years, leading to the development of new drugs for prevention and treatment.

## Study limitations:
The study acknowledged limitations such as the gene activity in the blood not fully reflecting brain activity and external factors like medication use affecting results.

## By the numbers:
More than 10 million people worldwide have Parkinson’s disease, with about 90,000 new cases in the U.S. each year.
Common motor symptoms include tremors, slowed movement, muscle stiffness, balance difficulties, and freezing episodes.

Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel praised the research for potentially allowing earlier and more effective diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s disease.