Altered metabolic pathways in disease
Although the Parkinson’s disease Although Parkinson’s disease is not the result of a metabolic disorder, cellular energy disruption and metabolic changes play an important role in the development of the disease. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms. Parkinson’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder. As life expectancy increases, the prevalence and incidence of Parkinson’s disease is expected to increase. In 1990, 2.5 million people worldwide were affected by Parkinson’s disease. This number increased to 6.1 million in 2016, with a further doubling expected by 2040. Understanding how changes in metabolites lead to the progression of Parkinson’s disease may allow the identification of individuals in the earliest stages of the disease and the development of new therapeutic strategies.
Towards new therapies and early diagnoses
The diagnosis of the Parkinson’s disease up to now it has been based on clinical symptoms, on medical history and response to dopaminergic therapy. DATscan (dopamine transporter scan) helps differentiate Parkinson’s disease from other movement disorders, such as essential tremor. However, does not distinguish between the different types of atypical parkinsonism. Accumulating evidence suggests that a series of subtle clinical changes may precede motor manifestation by years or even decades. The pathogenic mechanisms involved in Parkinson’s disease are only partially understood. The lack of reliable and objective measures for the detection, diagnosis and progression of Parkinson’s disease This constitutes a significant obstacle. It is also necessary to identify individuals in the early stages of the disease process, before symptoms develop, in order to optimize therapeutic intervention.
Why Metabolomics is Useful in Parkinson’s Disease
Several research groups are using metabolomics to differentiate the metabolic profiles that characterize the motor progression of Parkinson’s disease and dyskinesia, gait, and balance, as well as non-motor symptoms such as depression and cognitive decline. Metabolomics allows for the comprehensive identification and quantification of metabolic products (the metabolome) and is considered an important tool for identifying metabolic biomarkers of disease status. Many factors, including age, sex, diet, drug exposure, and the presence of the disease, influence the metabolome. Recent technological advances have allowed the characterization of hundreds of metabolites. metabolic profile complete biological fluids (serum/plasma, liquor, urine, saliva) is one non-invasive tool which can be used to help predict the incidence, severity and progression of the disease. The advantage of metabolomic analysis, based on 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS), lies in its ability to discriminate more than 6500 metabolites and small molecules which define the chemical signature of biological activity and identify qualitative and quantitative changes. THEanalysis of the identity and concentration variations of metabolites can be used to better understand the biological changes during the development and progression of Parkinson’s disease pathological conditions.
For further information:
Ostrakhovitch EA, Ono K, Yamasaki TR. Metabolomics in Parkinsons Disease and Correlation with Disease State. Metabolites. 2025 Mar 18;15(3):208. doi: 10.3390/metabo15030208.