Parkinson's Disease

Developing a non-invasive test to detect Parkinson’s disease with Professor of Neurology Valtteri Kaasinen at Turku University Hospital.

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer disease. The causes remain unknown, symptoms develop gradually, and current diagnosis relies mainly on mid-to-late stage movement symptoms, with no reliable method for early and precise detection or outcome prediction. In Finland, PD prevalence is similar to that in other developed countries, with an estimated 15,000 people living with the disease.
Currently there are no reliable non-invasive methods for large-scale screening and early detection of PD. To address this need, Professor Valtteri Kaasinen from the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Turku has set up an interdisciplinary project (SniffDAT) which will combine AQ Biotech’s phage-biosensor method and so called scent dogs and their capability to detect tiny scent fingerprints.

The first batch of samples and measurements in the spring 2025 delivered encouraging results as AQ Biosensors were able to classify PD patient samples from the patient samples with the same symptoms, which is the most important first step. Full analysis will be done in 1H 2026 with the aim to extend the project to China.