Eye scans detect signs of Parkinson's disease up to seven years before diagnosis (Standard ophthalmologist’s optical coherence tomography scan)

Medical Xpress / University College London / Neurology ^ | Aug. 21, 2023 | Siegfried Karl Wagner et al

[ConservativeMind]

Markers that indicate the presence of Parkinson's disease in patients on average seven years before clinical presentation have been identified by a research team.

The study identified markers of Parkinson's in eye scans with the help of AI. Its analysis of the AlzEye dataset was repeated using the wider UK Biobank database (healthy volunteers), which replicated the discoveries.

Eye scans and eye data have also been able to reveal a propensity to high blood pressure; cardiovascular disease including strokes; and diabetes.

Doctors have known for a long time that the eye can act as a "window" to the rest of the body, giving a direct insight into many aspects of our health. High-resolution images of the retina are now a routine part of eye care—in particular, a type of 3D scan known as "optical coherence tomography" (OCT), which is widely used in eye clinics and high-street opticians. In less than a minute, an OCT scan produces a cross-section of the retina (the back of the eye) in incredible detail—down to a thousandth of a millimeter.

These images are extremely useful for monitoring eye health, but their value goes much further, as a scan of the retina is the only non-intrusive way to view layers of cells below the skin's surface.

Parkinson disease's is a progressive neurological condition, characterized by a reduction of dopamine, and post-mortem examination of patients with Parkinson's disease has found differences in the INL (inner nuclear layer) of the retina.

This study confirmed previous reports of a significantly thinner GCIPL (ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer), while for the first time finding a thinner INL. It further found that a reduced thickness of these layers was associated with increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease, beyond that conferred by other factors or comorbidities.

[ConservativeMind]

Both the “significantly thinner GCIPL (ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer)” and the “thinner INL (inner nuclear layer)” are knowable today from current ophthalmologist tools.

Your ophthalmologist just needs to be asked to check these two layers to see if you are at risk.

[ConservativeMind]

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[tsomer]

So what can be done if this test predicts it in your future?

[BipolarBob]

From what I’ve read the primary starter for Parkinsons (and many other diseases incl. heart failure) is low level inflammation. Along with lack of exercise. Depression, anxiety and stress accelerates its progress. And lower dopamine output pushes it further along. Basically a change in lifestyle is required. Sorry, no single pill stops it dead in its tracks.

[Secret Agent Man]

There is more than just one thing that triggers Parkinsons and other related brain debilitating diseases.

A significant blunt trauma event to the head where the person loses consciousness for a period of time is often the main trigger that starts Parkinsons/dementia in a person.

Low grade infection in the brain is also a starter because the weird amyloid proteins clumping around those areas are there to try to contain and encapsulate those infected areas, its a response to trying to deal with brain infections.