The Healthy WAAY with Erin Dacy:Testing for Parkinson's

• Erin Dacy: dacy@waaytv.com

• Aug. 29, 2016

Right now most patients are not diagnosed with Parkinson's until they are showing symptoms of the disease. But, researchers have now developed a system that can detect Parkinson's-like brain changes well before anyone sees signs of the disease.

Seventy-one year old Timothy "Ted" McCarthy is retired from the N.Y.P.D, but prides himself on staying sound in mind and body.  Ted said, "I see other people and they are around the same age as me. I don't think they are as spry or mentally alert."  With a family history of dementia, Ted is determined to stay healthy as long as he can.

Researchers studying the link between mobility and cognition are using a new approach: a real-time imaging system called F-NIRS, functional near-infrared spectroscopy. F-NIRS uses light to monitor changes in blood oxygenation in a person's pre-frontal cortex.

Dr.  Jeannette Mahoney, an assistant professor Albert Einstein College of Medicine explained, "The pre-frontal cortex is involved in many important higher order functionings, like task switching, organization, planning, everything we need on a daily basis."

During tests, researchers ask participants to walk and talk at the same time.  Dr. Joe Verghese from Albert Einstein College of Medicine said,  "Dividing this attention is sometimes a problem when you get old, or when you have early signs of disease of the brain, like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or stroke."

With F-NIRS, patients are able to move around freely, unlike an M.R.I. Researchers say those who have mild Parkinsonian symptoms, don't look like they are having a tough time.

Joe said,  "Until you examine the brain using F-NIRS and you discover it is actually straining the brain to do a simple task."   Researchers say by identifying problems early on, they can intervene right away.

Timothy "Ted" McCarthy said,  "For 71, I think I'm doing okay."   McCarthy has been part of the research for five years and is showing no indication of dementia or Parkinson's.

The F-NIRS system was developed by Drexel University in Philadelphia and is also being used by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.

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