Enzymes are mother nature’s catalysts responsible for the chemistry of metabolic pathways in living cells. In some diseases, the function of an enzyme is deficient which can lead to dysfunction or early cell death. Patients who have serious forms of Parkinson’s appear to have low levels of GCase, an enzyme that cuts sugars off fats in all human cells. We are developing a diagnostic blood test that can accurately measure levels of GCase in blood samples of Parkinson’s patients. Not only could our blood test help identify patients with aggressive forms of Parkinson’s, but it could also help guide the development of important new therapies designed to boost GCase. This research, pioneered in Saskatchewan, could establish our province as a world leader in a diagnostic blood test for Parkinson’s and provide critical insight into the biological risk factors for developing early onset aggressive forms of Parkinson’s disease.
