Alzheimer's disease: early diagnosis by retina

A Simple eye examination can predict Alzheimer's Disease

Anna Stavina, XX2 century

In order to determine whether a person will develop Alzheimer's disease decades before the first symptoms appear, a simple retinal examination can be performed. This conclusion was reached by Professor Peter Snyder, a neuroscientist from Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital.

According to Snyder, the presence of plaques on the patient's retina is an important factor that can predict the development of Alzheimer's disease in the future. The professor presented the results of his work at a conference held at Griffith University.

The scientist noted that the first data look promising, but several more years will pass before the appearance of a diagnostic technique based on them.

"I'm looking for tiny, tiny inclusions or plaques in the retina that appear to be related to the amount of amyloid protein produced in the brain," Professor Snyder said. – By the time the patient has the first symptoms, the disease may have existed in the brain for 20 or 30 years. It will be too late.

I am currently searching for biomarkers related to the disease. I believe that the failures we see in clinical trials may be due to the fact that we start acting very late when the disease has gone too far," says Professor Snyder.

The study conducted by Professor Snyder included a survey of 80 patients (the average age of participants was 61 years). As part of the work, both a retinal examination and a brain scan were carried out.

During the examination, 20 participants showed signs of Alzheimer's disease: accumulations of beta-amyloid protein in the brain. Almost all of these patients also had inclusions in the retina.

A snapshot from the article by Snyder et al. Nonvascular retinal imaging markers
of preclinical Alzheimer's disease (Alzheimer's & Dementia, 2016) – VM

Professor Snyder said that he understands the desire of some people to find out as early as possible whether they will develop Alzheimer's disease.

"People [who tested positive] still look healthy," Snyder said. – They raise children and send them to college, go to work. And I'm really concerned.

Of course, this is a chicken and egg problem, but I sincerely believe that if we do not test drugs that can be effective in the early stages of the disease, we will never find a way to slow down the progress of the disease."

He also said that people, having learned that they are at risk, begin to take care of themselves more carefully than those who were informed that the risk is minimal.

"Amazing things happen: they start to take care of themselves. They adhere to a healthy diet, devote more time to physical exercises, normalize sleep patterns.

It's funny, but those who know that they are not at risk do not do anything to improve their health. So [a serious forecast] may have its positive sides."

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  23.11.2016