Background

Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) each year, contributing to the 10 million worldwide. Making an accurate diagnosis of PD is difficult as there is no standard diagnostic test. Most diagnoses are based on physician’s observation and experience. The current best industry practice involves scanning the brain to measure dopamine and brain metabolism. Unfortunately, these tests are extremely expensive and are limited to specialized imaging centers. This invention fills the unmet need by potentially providing a set of standard tests for PD diagnosis and prognosis.