Alzheimer’s disease is a disease of the brain that is usually diagnosed through MRI scans and a range of other tests. However, researchers have found that the eyes can show early signs of this common type of dementia long before symptoms appear.
The study was published at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, in the journal Acta Neuropathologica Last month.
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Early Alzheimer’s disease can be diagnosed through eye exams
The researchers analyzed human eyes and brain tissue from 86 deceased patients. All had mild or moderate cognitive impairment.
The team also compared samples of people with normal cognitive function with those who had early-stage symptoms and those who had advanced-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
The retinas of patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease had an excess amount of amyloid beta 42, a protein that forms the plaques that build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.
In addition, the retina contains cells called microglia, which are also associated with the development of the disease.
There are highly toxic proteins in the eyes
d said. Youssef Koroneo, MD, a research associate in the Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai and lead author of the study. The study, in a statement on the Cedars-Sinai website.
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Eye health reflects brain health
The survey also revealed changes in patients who had no cognitive decline or only very mild signs. This suggests that retinal tests can help in early diagnosis.
This study is the most comprehensive analysis of the retina in relation to the brain and cognitive functions of Alzheimer’s patients.
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