Alzheimer’s: The Eyes as a Diagnostic Tool.

Research shows that your eyes may show signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear.

Evidence suggests that Alzheimer’s disease begins in the brain decades before the onset of symptoms. That’s why researchers are trying to find ways to help detect brain theft at an early stage. This can save valuable time to intervene and manage modifiable risk factors such as diet or high blood pressure.

Fortunately, a study published in the journal Acta Neuropathologica shows that the eyes may hold clues to years of Alzheimer’s disease even before symptoms appear.

“Our study is the first to provide an in-depth analysis of the protein profiles and molecular, cellular and structural effects of Alzheimer’s disease in the human retina and how they correlate with changes in the brain and cognitive function,” said senior researcher Maya Coronio Hamui. , associate professor of neurosurgery and biomedical sciences at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. These changes in the retina are associated with changes in parts of the brain called the entorhinal and temporal cortex, which is the center of memory, navigation, and time perception.”

The research team collected retinal and brain tissue samples over a period of 14 years from 86 human donors with Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment.

They then compared samples from donors with normal cognitive function, those with mild cognitive impairment, and those with advanced Alzheimer’s disease.

The results showed a significant increase in beta-amyloid, a key marker of this memory-stealing disease, in people with Alzheimer’s disease and early cognitive decline.

Moreover, the number of cells responsible for the repair and maintenance of other cells, including the removal of beta-amyloid from the brain and retina, was reduced by 80% in people with cognitive problems.

According to the researchers, tissue atrophy and inflammation in the cells of the distal retina are more predictive of cognitive status.

These results are startling because they could eventually lead to the development of imaging technologies that can help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease at an early stage.

“Anything that can help identify the disease is a positive step forward,” said Dena Heaney, head of dementia at Macc Care, who was not involved in the study. “It will be very interesting to see the results of additional testing, which may lead to the need for optometrists.” .Work closely with neuroscientists to develop strategies for early detection and prognosis.”

Source: Express