Diagnosing Parkinson Disease and Other Synucleinopathies Through Syn-One Test: Sameea Husain-Wilson, DO

WATCH TIME: 5 minutes

“Once I call in, I review with the patient which side they would be more comfortable laying on because they are laying on their side [for the test]. I then explain to them that there are three punch sites. The three punch sites come from the trapezius muscle, so sort of a little bit lateral to that cervical region, the lateral thigh muscle, about an inch or two above the knee, and the lateral calf muscle, again about an inch or two above the ankle."

Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease with a global prevalence of more than 6 million individuals. The pathological hallmark of PD consists of neural inclusions in the form of Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites with cell loss in the substantia nigra and other brain areas. Considered a synucleinopathy, the diagnosis of PD remains a challenge since clinical features of the disease overlap with other neurodegenerative conditions, and traditional diagnostic tests have not allowed for definitive diagnosis from the earliest stages.

The Syn-One test, commercially available since 2019, is a skin biopsy test that provides accurate pathological evidence to aid in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with clinical features suggestive of synucleinopathy like PD and related disorders. Synucleinopathies encompass a group of neurodegenerative diseases that include PD, dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy, pure autonomic failure, and REM sleep behavior disorder. While the test does not current distinguish between these synucleinopathies, when used with other clinical features, may help make a more specific diagnosis.

As the prevalence of PD and other neurodegenerative conditions continue to grow, the use of such tests will be vital to identifying patients early and helping provide access to novel treatments that may have an impact on their disease course. In an interview with NeurologyLive®, Sameea Husain-Wilson, DO, a neurologist and director of movement disorder neurology at Marcus Neuroscience Institute, Baptist Health, discussed the ins and outs of the Syn-One test and its main functions. She provided details on some of the intricacies with the test, the materials and resources needed, and the pre- and post-test steps that are vital to ensuring a successful outcome. Furthermore, Husain-Wilson commented on the timing of test interpretation and when patients should be elevated for additional screening.