How to improve the biological definition of Parkinson's disease

Tiago Outeiro, PhD, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany, describes the ongoing effort to move toward a biological definition of Parkinson's disease and shares the concepts that need to be improved to continuously update its definition and allow an earlier diagnosis. A comprehensive understanding of all the biological alterations is required to improve the definition of the disease, including a better insight into neuropathology and the ability to detect the different types of proteins involved. Genetics will also play an essential part in providing paths to characterize patients and understanding the role of genetic variations in increasing the risk of Parkinson's disease. Additionally, better access to biological samples to detect biomarkers, whether blood or nasal swabs, can provide better insights into the different disease stages. This interview took place at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) 2022 Congress in Vienna, Austria.