It's already a given fact that there are no definitive tests available for Alzheimer's disease. Fortunately, a team of researchers from University of Minnesota's Center for Drug Design has recently discovered a simple and inexpensive test that could help doctors and specialists in diagnosing the condition even before the changes and effects are seen in patients.
In a study published in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, researchers claimed that Alzheimer's disease can be detected long before symptoms are seen in patients. According to UPI, this early detection is made possible by using a retina imaging device or camera equipped with "spectral imaging and tunable wavelength systems" that can measure the reflection of light in retinas.
How Retina Imaging Could Lead To The Potential Treatment Of Alzheimer's Disease
Since the brain and the retina are both part of the central nervous system, they undergo similar changes in cases of Alzheimer's disease. Through the use of a specialized retina imaging device, scientists found that the amyloid plague formation in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's can be detectable.
University of Minnesota's Center for Drug Design assistant professor Dr. Swarti More explained that they saw significant changes in the retinas of Alzheimer's mice before the age where neurological signs are observed. Unlike the brain, the retinas are more accessible so changes in light reflection indicating amyloid accumulation in the retina and the brain can be easily detected long before memory and cognitive degenerations are seen.
"We saw changes in the retinas of Alzheimer's mice before the typical age at which neurological signs are observed," More said in a press release. "The results are close to our best-case scenario for outcomes of this project."
Latest Alzheimer's Disease Breakthrough To Begin Clinical Trials In Humans This July?
Due to the potential use of retina imaging in the diagnosis and treatment for Alzheimer's disease, researchers are reportedly planning to start the clinical trials on humans this July. As a matter of fact, scientists even described this technological breakthrough as an inexpensive diagnosis method could lead to treatment of the condition, as well as the development of drugs, Deccan Chronicle reports.
The Benefit Of Estrogen Women In Reducing Postmenopausal Alzheimer's Risks
In other Alzheimer's disease-related news, a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease revealed that estrogen therapy in menopausal women under the age of 65 can reduce the risk for Alzheimer's disease. In another UPI report, researchers explained how estrogen treatment reduce the incidence of Alzheimer's disease.
"If our results are confirmed in the larger group of women, this finding has the potential to change the concepts for preventive interventions that drive the Alzheimer's disease field today," Mayo Clinic radiologist Dr. Kejal Kantarci said in a statement. "It also may have a significant impact on women making the decision to use hormone therapy in the early postmenopausal years."
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