A simple eye test that locates dead cells in the retina could be used to detect diseases such as Alzheimer’s before they present symptoms, according to a scientific experiment published in the United Kingdom. This is a technique developed by University College London, which marks dying cells on the wall of the eye with fluorescent dots -those that absorb the dye the most-, which, in turn, gives an idea of the mortality rate of the brain cells.
Alzheimer’s is known to affect vision, and 60% of sufferers have eye problems related to their ability to perceive colour, movement or contrast.
A path to the brain
- Other studies have also shown that neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s can result in the death of retinal cells.
- “Few people realize that the retina, although thin, is an extension of the brain. It is entirely possible that in the future, a visit to the optician for a checkup could serve to check the state of the brain,” said one of the authors of the experiment, Francesca Corduroy.
- According to experts, the development of this technique “opens a window into the brain” for researchers, who currently can only access brain activity through expensive scanners?
Also Parkinson’s
- After testing the method in mice genetically engineered to develop Alzheimer’s, the experts hope to begin experiments with people soon, and believe that in the near future the diagnostic technique could be adopted in opticians.
- The same process that diagnosed Alzheimer’s in mice can identify glaucoma, which also involves retinal cell death. It is believed that in the future this system has the potential to detect other diseases such as Parkinson’s.
- A spokeswoman for the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, Rebecca Wood, applauded the appearance of a new method of detecting the disease and recalled that early diagnosis is crucial to “treat and reverse the progression of the disease while new treatments are developed.