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Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:
Researchers at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology have discovered a new method of observing changes in the retina which can be seen in Parkinson's before changes in the brain occur and the first symptoms become evident.
Using ophthalmic instruments that are routinely used in[sic] optometrists and eye clinics, the scientists were able to use the new imaging technique to observe these retinal changes at an early stage. This method, published in Acta Neuropathologica Communications, would allow earlier diagnosis of Parkinson's and also could be used to monitor how patients respond to treatment. The technique has already been tested in humans for glaucoma and trials are due to start soon for Alzheimer's.
"This is potentially a revolutionary breakthrough in the early diagnosis and treatment of one of the world's most debilitating diseases," said Professor Francesca Cordeiro, UCL Professor of Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Studies, who led the research. "These tests mean we might be able to intervene much earlier and more effectively treat people with this devastating condition."
Parkinson's disease affects 1 in 500 people and is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide. Symptoms typically become apparent only once over 70 percent of the brain's dopamine-producing cells have been destroyed. The condition results in muscle stiffness, slowness of movement, tremors and a reduced quality of life.
(Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Monday August 22 2016, @02:22AM
There are more subtleties. Suppose your boss is a dickhead and you go in for a checkup for stress-related ailments and jokingly tell your doctor that you want to murder your boss. The kinds of MDs who aren't making their careers writing prescriptions for weed and working for charity in African shitholes are most likely Right-leaning and can take a joke, but all it takes is that one wrong time or person to get you flagged, and then it's in your medical record for good. You need not provide any biometric data to get flagged in that sense.
And that's not even seeing a shrink. If you are, chances are that there's a lot more damning stuff in that record.
It's pretty obvious why that's a bad idea - If you're a treatable nut, it makes you less likely to be honest in seeking treatment, possibly leading to disastrous consequences later -- especially if you don't want to lose your gun collection. Even if you're not a nut, it allows the judgement of your doctor to have negative and unfair effects on your life.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 22 2016, @03:04AM
If you want to make a joke about killing your boss, you have to do it in a designated comedy setting, and you have to be a designated comedian, otherwise idiots will not understand that a joke was made. Sometimes not even then, e.g. Michael Richards.