Eye test could help detect Alzheimer’s
July 18th 2011 21:23
Memory tests or brain scans are usually used to test for early signs of dementia but recently scientists have started studying the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye to look for damage.
Scientists believe that differences can be spotted in the retinas of dementia sufferers, aiding early diagnosis of the degenerative brain condition.
It would represent a breakthrough in management of dementia patients – set to reach 1million in Britain as the population ages over the next decade – as currently only about in three receives a diagnosis and there is little effective treatment.
Rebecca Wood, the chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “This study adds to previous work suggesting that eye scans could be a useful aid for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. These results could lead to a simple and effective method of detecting Alzheimer’s at a much earlier stage, but much more work remains to be done.
“The ability to diagnose Alzheimer’s early is a key target for research. Not only would early detection allow people to plan for the future, it would mean potential new treatments could be tested at the earliest stages of the disease, when they are most likely to have an effect. With 820,000 people affected by dementia in the UK, we urgently need more research to find better ways to diagnose, treat and prevent dementia.”
Memory tests or brain scans are usually used to test for early signs of dementia but recently scientists have started studying the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye to look for damage.
Last year researchers at University College London disclosed detailed of animal experiments in which eye drops were used to highlight cell damage in the retina that corresponded to brain deterioration.
In the latest research, reported at the American Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Paris on Sunday, researchers at Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation disclosed the results of a study involving 126 human subjects.
They analysed retinal photographs to find that the width of blood vessels was “significantly different” among those with Alzheimer’s compared with healthy people.
Separate research disclosed at the conference looked at two other ways to test for Alzheimer’s.
One involved brain scans to calculate levels of a protein known as amyloid which is a “hallmark” of the condition, while the other involved measuring a part of the brain responsible for the formation of new memories, known as the hippocampus.
Another study found that people with early signs of Alzheimer’s are more likely to suffer falls, suggesting that balance and visual perception may decline before memory
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