Plasma Glutathione and Prodromal Parkinson's Disease Probability

Abstract

A decrease in glutathione (GSH) levels is considered one of the earliest biochemical changes in Parkinson's disease (PD). The authors explored the potential role of plasma GSH as a risk/susceptibility biomarker for prodromal PD (pPD) by examining its longitudinal associations with pPD probability trajectories. A total of 405 community-dwelling participants (median age [interquartile range]=73.2 [7.41] years) without clinical features of parkinsonism were followed for a mean (standard deviation) of 3.0 (0.9) years. A 1 μmol/L increase in plasma GSH was associated with 0.4% (95% confidence interval [CI],0.1%-0.7%; P= 0.017) less increase in pPD probability for 1 year of follow-up. Compared with participants in the lowest GSH tertile, participants in the highest GSH tertile had a 12.9% (95% CI,22.4%-2.2%; P= 0.020) slower rate of increase of pPD probability for 1 year of follow-up. Plasma GSH was associated with pPD probability trajectories; therefore, it might assist in the identification of individuals who are likely to reach the threshold for pPD diagnosis more rapidly. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.