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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, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 22 2016, @03:10AM
From what I've read, everything you wrote is correct, but the story can be much more positive. For example, after being written off by her original doctor as having "age related tremors", my mother still felt that something wasn't right. She was having too much trouble moving and doing anything that required hand coordination, and symptoms were getting worse week by week. Nothing much else was wrong with her, only med she was taking was a blood thinner after heart valve repair surgery a few years back.
The next doc looked at various things and after a few months suggested that she try the Parkinson's meds--the dose was increased slowly, ramped up over a couple of weeks. One day she got to a useful dosage, the change was remarkable, and I had my mother (mostly) back as she was a few years ago. We all recognize that this isn't a cure, but for now it's given her back a useful life. And the best thing is that she's smiling again.
If this retinal scan diagnosis was available, she could have been diagnosed a year (or more) earlier, instead of being written off by her original doctor (who, speaking politely, we think wasn't trying very hard). Could have saved a year of very low quality of life and being very frightened, as in, "What's happening to me?"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 22 2016, @03:59AM
Her symptoms were quite obvious. There's no medical condition called "age related tremors". "age related tremors" = I don't want to help.
So I don't think the retinal scan would help if you had this sort of doctor interpreting the results of the retinal scan. The scan is just another source of data, not a magic "You've got this disease", someone still needs to interpret it. The real problem was her doctor.
Go look: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/840971 [medscape.com]
There was no significant difference in macular thickness or volume, and color vision, intraocular pressure, anterior segment, and fundus were all normal in the two groups.
However, on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, the retinal nerve fiber layer and the ganglion cell inner plexiform layer were thinner in the Parkinson's group than in the control group.
In addition, on multifocal electroretinogram, a decline in retina electrical activity was seen in the Parkinson's group. And contrast sensitivity was significantly lower in the Parkinson's group than in the control group.
These findings cannot be used to diagnose Parkinson's disease because many other conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, and Alzheimer's disease, can produce the same findings, she pointed out.
So the retina is slightly thinner but someone still has to interpret the results.
The above citation is not the actual research study linked by this story, for that you can see: http://actaneurocomms.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40478-016-0346-z [biomedcentral.com]
And you'll find it's more about rosiglitazone than a new way of detecting Parkinsons.