Genetic analysis of saliva may offer a noninvasive way to assess the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, according to a saliva-based DNA study led by researchers at the University of the Basque Country (EHU) in Spain.
The scientists found that molecular markers in saliva can reflect whole-body disease processes, suggesting the potential for early detection not only of Parkinson’s but also of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other neurological conditions.
“Saliva is one of the most accessible biological fluids but it is still underutilised in clinical practice,” José Ramón Bilbao, PhD, professor of medical genetics at the EHU and the study’s senior author, said in a university news story. “Our results show that molecular markers present in saliva can reflect systemic [whole-body] pathological processes beyond the oral cavity.”