Researchers from UCL and Moorfields Eye Hospital have made a groundbreaking discovery: eye scans can reveal early signs of Parkinson’s disease up to seven years before any symptoms show up.
This is the first time anyone has made this kind of finding.
The team used advanced computer technology to analyze huge sets of eye scan data, and their results have far-reaching implications for diagnosing and treating Parkinson’s much earlier than before.
How the Study Worked
The study used a technique called “optical coherence tomography” (OCT) to get very detailed pictures of the back of the eye, known as the retina.
OCT scans are super quick and offer a peek at layers of cells beneath the skin. These scans are usually used to check eye health, but researchers are now finding that they can tell us much more.
With the help of computers trained in a type of artificial intelligence called “machine learning,” the team studied large collections of OCT images in record time.
The study compared two big sets of data. One set, called the AlzEye dataset, was specifically focused on Parkinson’s disease.
The other was the UK Biobank database, which includes health information from volunteers who don’t have Parkinson’s.
The computers were able to spot subtle changes in the retina that are linked to Parkinson’s, even though the disease is relatively rare.
What This Could Mean for the Future
Lead researcher Dr. Siegfried Wagner said this new technique might soon help doctors identify people who are at high risk of developing Parkinson’s.
By spotting the disease’s early signs, people could have more time to make lifestyle changes that might help delay or even prevent the disease. It could also help doctors start treatment much sooner.
Parkinson’s is a condition that affects the brain, making it harder for people to move and causing them to shake or be stiff.
It happens because the brain starts to lose a chemical called dopamine. Doctors usually can’t diagnose it until symptoms show up. This new research could change that.
Louisa Wickham, medical director at Moorfields, said this kind of eye scan could be a game-changer for public health.
OCT scans are quicker, less invasive, and cheaper than brain scans, making it easier to check a lot of people for early signs of Parkinson’s.
What’s Next and Study Limitations
Although this research is promising, more work is needed. The study found that certain layers of the retina were thinner in people at risk of Parkinson’s.
But researchers still need to figure out whether these changes actually cause the disease or are just early warning signs.
The study also didn’t have complete information on how far along the disease was in people who were diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
The research brought together experts from multiple hospitals and universities, making it one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind.
Yet even with this collaborative effort, there are questions still to be answered in future research.
So, while we may not yet be at a point where a quick eye scan can definitively predict Parkinson’s, the discovery takes us a big step closer to early detection and potentially life-changing early treatment options.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies that Vitamin B may slow down cognitive decline, and Mediterranean diet could help lower the risk of Parkinson’s disease.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline, and results showing Plant-based diets could protect cognitive health from air pollution.
The study was published in Neurology.
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