Screening instrument for early detection of neurodegenerative disease progression
The time of diagnosis has a decisive influence on the treatment and chances of recovery from diseases. For example, numerous screening examinations are offered for cancer and cardiovascular diseases. For neurodegenerative diseases, on the other hand (e.g. Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease), no screening is currently offered.
Due to demographic developments, neurodegenerative diseases are increasing significantly. They are the major health economic challenges of our time. At the clinical manifestation of symptoms, the neurodegenerative process is already irreversibly advanced, whereby the actual disease manifestation is preceded by a long preliminary phase (prodromal phase) of the disease.
Currently, there are numerous drugs in clinical development that can be used to realise a curative therapy approach. However, the use of these neuroprotectants requires early disease detection before the affected brain areas are irreversibly damaged. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an efficient and inexpensive screening examination in the sense of a preventive examination for neurodegenerative diseases.
saniva diagnostics GmbH, which was founded as a spin-off of the University Hospital Jena and has applied for a European patent, is dealing with this problem. With a specific motor screening instrument, patients at risk are to be identified earlier and consequently benefit from a curative treatment approach.


Our research and development project is subsidised by the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) with funds from the European Union. FTI for single-company research and development projects.
Funding body: Thüringer Aufbaubank
Project number: 2019 FE 0151
The R&D project will achieve the development, verification, and validation of an innovative screening instrument for the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases in outpatient medical care.