03/25/2026
One of the biggest barriers to improving care for people with (LBD) is that diagnosis is often slow, invasive and uncertain. Today, clinicians must rely on symptoms that can overlap with other conditions, with confirmation frequently requiring spinal fluid tests, specialized procedures, or even autopsy. The development of a diagnostic blood test could change that, making diagnosis earlier, more accessible, and more widely available.
Through the Lewy Body Dementia Association research program, New Investigator Pilot Study Award (NIPSA) grantee Marisa Denkinger, PhD, is working toward that goal. A postdoctoral fellow at Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Dr. Denkinger brings expertise in advanced imaging and biomarker science to the challenge of identifying a protein “signature” in blood that could distinguish LBD from other diseases and help predict how symptoms may progress over time.
Her team will apply next-generation proteomics (powerful tools capable of measuring hundreds to thousands of proteins at extremely low levels) to large existing research cohorts. Promising blood markers will then be validated against carefully characterized samples that include both stored blood and detailed brain pathology, allowing researchers to confirm which signals truly reflect Lewy body disease.
If successful, this work could open the door to earlier and more accurate diagnosis, better-informed care decisions, and more efficient clinical trials. By applying cutting-edge technology to well established datasets, studies like this help move the field closer to practical tools that can make a meaningful difference for families living with LBD.
See how research is shaping the future of LBD care, diagnosis and treatment: https://lbda.org/research
