What Eye Test Gives Early Alzheimers Diagnosis
What Eye Test Gives Early Alzheimers Diagnosis? Well, British researchers have developed a simple eye test that could spot Alzheimer’s years before symptoms appear.
The best part is that the test could be given by an optician. That would permit treatment to begin immediately. This gives the hope of stopping and perhaps even reversing the dreaded disease of Alzheimer’s.
How Is The Test Done
This simple eye test uses eye drops containing a fluorescent dye and then a photo is taken with an infra-red camera. Dying nerve cells in the retina absorb the dye and they in turn, show up as green dots.
According to a leading author, Professor Francesca Cordeiro, of the University College London, he stated that, “Few people realize that the retina is a direct, albeit thin, extension of the brain,”
She continued with a statement of, “It’s entirely possible that in the future, a visit to a optician to check on your eyesight will also be a check on the state of your brain.”
This new Eye Test Gives Early Alzheimer’s Diagnosis compared with current methods. Alzheimer’s diagnosis often comes late in the course of the disease, when it is too late to treat the disease. This new eye test will spot Alzheimer’s early enough and could revolutionize treatment of this life taking disease, that we as Baby Boomers are facing.
“The death of nerve cells is the key event in all neurodegenerative disorders—but until now it has not been possible to study cell death in real time. This technique means we should be able to directly observe retinal nerve cell death in patients, which has a number of advantages in terms of effective diagnosis.”
This could be critically important since identification of the early stages could lead to successful reversal of the disease progression with treatment,” Cordeiro stated.
The best part is that the equipment used to perform the new test for Alzheimer’s is inexpensive, noninvasive, and is basically the same used in hospitals and clinics worldwide. How cool is that?
According to Rebecca Wood, of the U.K.’s Alzheimer’s Research Trust, “These findings have the potential to transform the way we diagnose Alzheimer’s, greatly enhancing efforts to develop new treatments and cures,”
“If we spot Alzheimer’s in its earliest stages, we may be able to treat and reverse the progression of the disease as new treatments are developed.”
What Eye Test Gives Early Alzheimers Diagnosis? Well, the human trials of the technique are all ready underway, and the test could be available within two years. Hang n there, Baby Boomers. Help is on the way…
"
"
"
The test, which could be given by an optician, would allow treatment to begin immediately, giving hope of stopping and even reversing the dreaded disease.
The test uses eye drops containing a fluorescent dye followed by a photo taken with an infra-red camera. Dying nerve cells in the retina absorb the dye and show up as green dots.