Our mission is to better differentiate Parkinson’s disease from related neurodegenerative disorders, enabling earlier diagnosis, more timely interventions, and better outcomes.
AMP Parkinson’s Disease and Related Disorders (AMP PDRD) builds on the infrastructure established during AMP Parkinson’s Disease (AMP PD), expanding on datasets to include a broader range of patients with Parkinson’s disease and other related disorders that share similar symptoms and biological characteristics, such as multiple system atrophy (MSA), Lewy body dementia (LBD), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
AMP PD integrated and harmonized data from diverse natural history and clinical trial studies, and streamlined data access to advance the discovery and development of therapeutics for people living with Parkinson’s disease.
AMP PDRD seeks to employ a data-driven approach to identify and validate biomarkers distinguishing Parkinson’s disease from related diseases, with an overarching goal to enhance the success of clinical trials and ultimately broaden treatment options for individuals affected by these conditions.
No Approved Therapies
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive neurological disease characterized by resting tremor, muscle rigidity, slowness of movement, impaired balance, and a shuffling gait. People with PD can also develop non-motor symptoms, such as behavioral changes and cognitive impairment. In the United States alone, it is estimated that more than 1 million people live with PD and approximately 90,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease each year.
Early diagnosis is crucial for initiating appropriate treatment, and doctors have traditionally relied on a patient’s medical history, neurological examinations, and imaging tests to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms. A promising new diagnostic test can detect abnormal amounts of a protein called alpha-synuclein, a known biological characteristic of Parkinson’s disease, through a spinal tap or skin biopsy.
Once diagnosed, currently available treatments can manage symptoms, but no drugs have been approved to cure Parkinson’s or alter the course of the disease.
Identifying & Validating New Biomarkers
AMP PDRD represents a concerted effort to deepen our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease, identify biomarkers for early detection, and develop more precise and effective treatments. One key aspect of the project is to validate biomarkers, including the presence of alpha-synuclein, as well as complementary biomarkers reflective of global corticolimbic mixed pathophysiology, such as Aβ1-42, tau, and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) or other novel biomarkers, that can differentiate Parkinson’s from related diseases, such as MSA, LBD and PSP. Along with identifying biomarkers for Parkinson’s, AMP PDRD will prioritize developing or validating platforms and tools for detecting these biomarkers through noninvasive methods such as blood or saliva.
In addition, researchers will gather and compare data from individuals at various stages of Parkinson’s to determine biomarkers that can indicate disease onset and progression, which could lead to more targeted and personalized treatment approaches. By validating biomarkers for early detection and disease progression, AMP PDRD will also facilitate recruiting the right participants for new drug trials and increase the success rate of those trials.
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PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERS
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institute on Aging
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS
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