Other diseases such as glaucoma and Parkinson’s disease, however, can also cause a thinning of the retina. “The retina can provide easy access to the brain, and its thinning can be indicative of a decrease in the amount of neural tissue, which can mean that Alzheimer’s is present,” says Wax. Previous research has shown that Alzheimer’s can cause structural changes to the retina, most notably a thinning of the inner retinal layers. One such potential biomarker comes from the retina, which is literally an extension of the brain and part of the central nervous system. This is why researchers look for biomarkers they can use as early warning signs of the disease. Even then, the only way to definitively determine that Alzheimer’s was the cause is with expensive MRI and PET scans or through an autopsy.īut if early interventions such as drugs and mental exercise can halt disease progress, patients can have a greatly improved quality of life. (Credit: Duke)Ĭurrently, doctors can only diagnose Alzheimer’s disease after a patient begins to show symptoms of cognitive decline. The green represents amyloid deposits that are thought to correlate with Alzheimer’s disease. “Our hope is that we can use this insight to create an easy and cheap screening device that wouldn’t only be available at your doctor’s office, but at places like your local pharmacy as well.” A fluorescence image of retinal layers taken with a confocal microscope from wild, healthy mice (right) and mice genetically bred to show symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (left). “Previous research has seen a thinning of the retina in Alzheimer’s patients, but by adding a light-scattering technique to the measurement, we’ve found that the retinal nerve fiber layer is also rougher and more disordered,” says Adam Wax, professor of biomedical engineering at Duke University. The device can measure both the thickness and texture of the various layers of the retina at the back of the eye, potentially offering a widespread early warning system for the disease. ![]() A new imaging device could detect a biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease in the retina, research in mice indicates.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |