Towards an evolution in Parkinson’s disease treatment: Modern technology and biomarkers
The annual congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) has become a premier platform for presenting cutting-edge neurological research and innovation, exchanging knowledge, and growing the professional network. This year’s congress took place in Helsinki, Finland, and had a record-breaking attendance of over 7,000 onsite attendees and 2,000 virtual participants. The overarching theme ‘Neuromodulation: advances and opportunities in neurological diseases’ was addressed in a range of workshops and plenary sessions with leading specialists tackling hot topics in invasive and non-invasive neuromodulation in movement and cognitive disorders, chronic pain, and refractory epilepsy.
During this year's conference, a growing and active interest in the field of movement disorders, particularly Parkinson's disease, became evident. The program covered both the promising field of non-invasive therapeutic neuromodulation for Parkinson’s disease as well as the hot topics and future directions for invasive neuromodulation. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques have gained attention for their ability to improve symptoms without the need for invasive procedures. The engaging presentations and discussions highlighted the exciting advancements and the need for continued research in this evolving field. In the field of invasive neuromodulation, leading experts provided an overview of current advancements in deep brain stimulation (DBS) and high-frequency focused ultrasound for treating Parkinson’s disease. The speakers emphasized that, through the increasing understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of neuronal networks and the technological development of neuromodulation devices, it is possible to deliver increasingly effective and precise therapy. In both fields, the need for objective measures to assess symptoms and treatment efficacy was emphasized. For invasive Parkinson’s disease therapies, the future direction will be an adaptive closed-loop strategy with constant treatment adjustment and optimization based on objective symptom measurement in the patient's home environment.
Another hot topic of this year’s conference was the transition from a clinical definition of Parkinson’s disease to a biological definition and classification of the disease. Today, we have a clear picture that the preclinical phase of the disease starts years before clinical onset. A new definition of Parkinson’s disease based on biology and not just clinical signs was discussed to identify and classify the affected subset of patients for early intervention and disease-modifying therapies. The ‘Syn-Neur-Ge’ biological classification system for Parkinson’s disease is a novel framework for future clinical trials in targeted disease-modifying therapies for Parkinson’s disease, opening the doors for real hope in stopping disease progression in the many patients treated every day suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
There is a clear call to evolve the way we diagnose and treat Parkinson’s disease. Clinical assessment will continue to be essential in the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s disease, but also modern technology and biomarkers will play a crucial role in early detection of the disease, improving treatment effectiveness, and for applying disease-modifying therapies. Leveraging modern technology, including wearable devices and artificial intelligence, and a combination of biomarkers will enable to detect alterations and predict the clinical onset of the disease.
We are pleased to see this movement in Parkinson’s care and the wider recognition of wearable technology for more accurate and objective symptom assessment, both in scientific studies and clinical practice.
Image credit: European Academy of Neurology