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Results from two studies show that a new, non-invasive imaging device can see signs of Alzheimer's disease in a matter of seconds. The researchers show that the small blood vessels in the retina are altered in patients with Alzheimer's. Even patients who have a family history of Alzheimer's no symptoms show these telltale signs. And they showed that they are able to distinguish between Alzheimer's and those with only mild cognitive impairment. Results from these studies are being presented at AAO 2018, the 122nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
A new kind of accurate and non-invasive imaging called optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has helped much of the recent research on the eye's connection to Alzheimer's. It allows physicians to see the smallest of the eyes of the eye, including the red blood cells moving through the retina.
Because the retina is connected to the brain by way of the optic nerve, researchers believe that the deterioration in the retina and its blood vessels can be seen in the brain. process.
Alzheimer's diagnosis is a current a challenge. Some techniques can detect signs of the disease but are impractical for screening millions of people: Brain scans are expensive and spinal taps can be harmful. Instead, the disease is often diagnosed through memory tests or observing behavior changes. By the time these changes are noticed, the disease is advanced. Even though there is no cure, early diagnosis is critical as soon as possible. Early diagnosis would also give patients and their families time to plan for the future.
The goal of this research is a quick, inexpensive way to detect Alzheimer's at the earliest signs.
Researchers at Duke University used OCTA to compare the results of Alzheimer's patients with those of mild cognitive impairment, as well as healthy people. They found that the Alzheimer's group had a small loss of blood retinal blood vessels at the back of the eye. Even people with mild cognitive impairment did not show these changes.
Ophthalmologist and lead author Sharon Fekrat, MD, professor of Ophthalmology at Duke, along with colleague Dilraj Grewal M.D., associate professor of Ophthalmology at Duke, and their research team expect that their work will have a positive impact on patient's lives.
"This project meets a huge unmet need," Dr. Fekrat said. "It's not possible for current techniques like a brain scan or lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to screen the number of patients with this disease.All of us have a family member or extended family affected by Alzheimer's. treatments earlier. "
Because genes play a significant role in the study of Alzheimer 's disease and other causes, another team of researchers from Sheba Medical Center in Israel. They compared their retina and brain scans with those who have no family history of Alzheimer's.
They found that the inner layer of the retina is thinner in people with a family history. The brain scan showed their hippocampus, an area of the brain that was first affected by the disease, had already begun to shrink. Both factors have been associated with a cognitive function test.
"A brain scan can detect Alzheimer's when the disease is well beyond a treatable phase," said lead researcher Ygal Rotenstreich M.D., an ophthalmologist at the Goldschleger Eye Institute at Sheba Medical Center. These patients are at such high-risk. "
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