Khaberni - In a promising medical discovery that could transform early detection of "Parkinson's disease" (Parkinsonism), a team of neuroscientists in Germany has developed a simple test based on monitoring how a person rotates while walking, which can predict the risk of developing the disease almost nine years before an official diagnosis.
This development, published in the Annals of Neurology and reported by the British Daily Mail newspaper, is the first long-term study to prove the existence of precise motor indicators that can be used as early warning signs for the disease.
How does the test work?
The discovery is based on the observation that rotating while walking is among the most complex movements that humans perform, as it requires precise coordination between the brain and the neuromuscular system to maintain balance and direction.
While straight walking may not reveal early disturbances, the method of turning or rotating can expose a fine neurological dysfunction in movement control.
In the study conducted by researchers from the University of Tübingen in Germany as part of a long-term research project known as TREND (acronym for Assessing Risk Factors for Early Detection of Neurodegenerative Decay), 924 individuals over the age of fifty were tested five times over a period of ten years.
Each participant wore a small sensor mounted on their lower back while walking down a 20-meter hallway for one minute at their natural pace. After analyzing the data using artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques, the scientists noted that people who rotated slowly and with a wider angle than usual were more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease about 8.8 years later.
"Slower rotation... higher risk"
The researchers stated in their scientific paper that "rotation requires continuous adjustment of the path while walking, a process that depends on a complex balance between the cerebral cortex, the motor system, and the cerebellum."
They added: "When the dopamine-producing neurons begin to decline, as happens in the early stages of Parkinson's, the brain loses its ability to coordinate movements optimally, causing the person to slow their rotation without realizing it."
The scientists believe that the slowing of movement and deviation in the rotation angle are the result of an early compensatory mechanism in the brain, whereby the patient unconsciously chooses a wider and safer path to avoid falling, due to instability in standing or walking.
Who is most at risk?
The study also revealed that men are four times more likely than women to develop the disease, and the risk increases by 15% with each additional year of age after fifty. These findings suggest that biological and hormonal factors may play a role in protecting women, at least in the early stages of the disease.
By the end of the follow-up period, 23 participants had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, about five years after their last test, allowing researchers to compare their early walking patterns with the healthy group.
The silent disease
Parkinson's disease is one of the most common neurological disorders in the world, affecting more than 500,000 people in the United States and about 150,000 in Britain, with a continuous increase in cases globally.
The disease occurs due to the death of neurons that produce dopamine, the chemical neurotransmitter responsible for controlling movement. Symptoms usually start very slowly and include tremors, slow movement, muscle stiffness, and loss of balance, along with non-motor symptoms such as depression, sleep disorders, and loss of sense of smell.
The biggest challenge, however, is that symptoms do not appear until about 60 to 70% of the neurons responsible for movement have been lost, which often makes diagnosis too late for effective treatment.
The importance of early detection
To date, there is no conclusive blood test or imaging scan for diagnosing the disease before it becomes clinically apparent.
Therefore, this discovery is seen as a revolutionary step in preventive neurology, as it can allow doctors to identify individuals at risk years before symptoms appear and start treatment or behavioral interventions early.
The lead researcher in the study, Dr. Manuel Farlie said: "The test is simple and can be widely applied using a small sensor and a smart analysis algorithm. Our goal is to develop routine field tests for people over fifty to monitor disease indicators before it's too late."
Experts believe this method represents a practical move towards establishing a mass screening system for neurological diseases using wearable devices, such as smart watches or motion belts. If the algorithm is sufficiently developed, anyone could perform the test at home, revolutionizing the way neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's are monitored."
The researchers stress that the findings need broader trials including diverse population segments to verify their accuracy, but the initial indicators are "very encouraging."
