Parkinsons Disease Differentiation Study

Study Purpose

The purpose of this research study is to determine whether identification of misfolded proteins in the skin will help to determine type of parkinsonism someone has. A skin punch biopsy could be a useful way to diagnose and measure the severity of these conditions. To accomplish that, we are testing in the skin for alpha-synuclein, a misfolded protein that is found in the brain of people with PD, multiple system atrophy, or dementia with Lewy bodies. In skin punch biopsy, the dermatologist or neurologist numbs the area of skin, then a device that looks like a pen takes 2 small 4-6mm samples of skin (around the size of a pencil eraser). In addition to people with PD and DLB, controls (people without PD or other neurological illness) are especially needed for comparison with people with PD.

Who Can Participate

Participants between 21 and 89 years of age diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy or corticobasal degeneration may be eligible for this study. Participants without any neurological disease are also needed as control participants for this study.