Proteo-metabolomic integration identifies stage-specific candidate biomarkers for Parkinson's disease

NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2026 Sep 4;12(1):213. doi: 10.1038/s41531-026-01497-3.

ABSTRACT

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with a prolonged prodromal phase and complex motor symptoms. Despite improved clinical criteria, early diagnosis and longitudinal monitoring remain challenging. While cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma metabolites and proteins show biomarker potential, their utility in predictive models is insufficiently characterized. We employed a secondary computational approach to integrate proteometabolomic profiles from CSF and plasma samples of >1100 Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) participants. Using multi-omics machine learning, we identified biofluid-specific signatures and evaluated predictive performance. Twenty-one biomarker candidates were validated across three models (SVM, GLMNET, RF); SVM and GLMNET achieved the highest recall (83-86%) and AUCs of 0.84-0.89. Longitudinal mixed-effects modeling revealed eight candidates associated with progression across diagnostic stages. We identified a three-part molecular framework characterizing neurodegeneration: a diagnostic subpanel reflecting early microbiome dysregulation (secretory granins and metabolites) and synaptic breakdown; a second subpanel monitoring phenoconversion via neurogenesis precursors and extracellular matrix proteins; and a third subpanel tracking progression through chronic neuroinflammation and immune activation. This integrated multi-omics approach provides a robust framework for stage-specific PD monitoring and potential clinical deployment.

PMID:42697887 | DOI:10.1038/s41531-026-01497-3