Eye test for Alzheimer’s

In a recent study published in the latest journal of Cell Death & Disease, a team of British researchers may have found that a rapid early detection of Alzheimer’s could be achieved through an eye examination. Alzheimer’s affects nearly 700,000 people in the UK and can creep up unbeknown on many of its sufferers. Therefore, this new test has the potential to lead to an early diagnosis of the disease, ensuring rapid treatment to stop the death of cells.

The revolutionary eye test involves the simple use of a fluorescent dye administered into the eye by eye drops or an injection into the arm, where a photo is then taken of the eye using an infrared camera. This chemical marker seeks dying cells and marks them, which will then show up on the photo taken. The amount of dots that appear on this photo will then determine whether the patient has the disease or not; a count of around 20 is thought to be a good indication that the patient may be developing Alzheimer’s. Not only would this test be far easier, quicker and less distressful on the patient it would also eradicate the need for MRI scans early on in the diagnosis.

University College London was responsible for this research which has so far only been conducted on mice, with human trials to follow on later this year. Professor Francesca Coredeiro of the University College London emphasizes the importance of our eyes in the detection of diseases; and this is due to the retina itself being an “extension of the brain”. Therefore, she goes on to describe how not only could this test prove revolutionary in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s but in many other diseases affecting the brain. She goes on to comment that it wouldn’t be impossible to imagine that in five years time our eye tests won’t just be to check the state of eyes but the overall state of our brains. With many people seeing their eye tests as unnecessary and costly, perhaps this latest news of just how significant a role they play in our overall health could encourage people to visit their opticians.

15th January 2010

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