Parkinson's disease can be predicted by eye scans ~ Dr Antonio Giordano (Sbarro Institute / SHRO)
Early Signs Are Detectable from Retina Analysis
- Post & News
- August 31, 2023
It is possible to identify invisible irregularities appearing up to 7 years before the clinical manifestation of Parkinson’s disease by scanning the retina and using artificial intelligence.
According to a research study published in the journal Neurology by University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital, Parkinson’s, a neurodegenerative disease affecting about 10 million people worldwide, can present early warning signs, including drops in dopamine levels and lower concentrations of neuromelanin, which can be detected by 3D ocular scans.
As mentioned, these symptoms can appear approximately 7 years before tremors, which are indicative of more advanced stages of the disease. A thorough examination of the eyes revealed distinct variations “in the thickness of the layer of cells” within the retina in people who would eventually develop Parkinson’s disease or present its early symptoms.
Thus, the eyes are capable of predicting Parkinson’s” through retinal imaging. In fact, the retina is a key component for early diagnosis and examining histopathological alterations at the level of the brain.