The importance of accurately diagnosing Parkinson’s disease cannot be underestimated, but according to a ten year study of 1626 patients conducted by researchers at the University of Turku and the Turku University Hospital in Finland, many Parkinson’s diagnoses have to be corrected.
The researchers found that one in six diagnoses were changed, mostly within two years. When dementia with Lewy bodies was treated as a separate diagnostic category, the revision rate increased to nearly 20%.
The results, which were published in Neurology, emphasised the need for accurate diagnostic testing to remove the challenges and uncertainties faced by clinicians.
It is research like this that emphasises the need for accurate saliva-based diagnostics, such as RapidDX’s ‘lab in the hand’, which offer a cost-effective, non-invasive solution.
As we know, saliva as a biofluid with the potential for disease diagnosis first received FDA attention in the 1990s. Since then, multiple saliva collection devices have been approved.
Diseases currently under investigation for saliva-based diagnostics include:
Oral Diseases:
- Periodontal Disease: Saliva contains biomarkers related to gum health, aiding in early detection of periodontal disease.
- Oral Cancer: Certain proteins and genetic markers in saliva can indicate oral cancer risk.
Systemic Diseases:
- Diabetes: Saliva glucose levels correlate with blood glucose levels, making it useful for monitoring diabetes.
- Autoimmune Diseases: Saliva biomarkers may help diagnose conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus.
- Cardiovascular Diseases: Some studies explore saliva markers for heart disease risk assessment.
Infectious Diseases:
- Hepatitis B and C: Saliva-based tests are being researched for these viral infections.