I miss Dr. Duskas. For years, he was my eye doctor. Of course, he was entitled to retire, but I still miss him. He replaced Dr. Curtis Bare, my eye doctor for the 13 years I lived in Charlottesville.
Dr. Duskas took pictures of my eyes each year. Providing additional health data about hypertension and other maladies that can be detected via the eyes.
And, while I no longer wear contact lenses (or remedial eye glasses), resorting simply to reading glasses (thank God, my eyes have improved), my new eye doctor doesn’t take annual pictures. But, he might now…
Why is that?
Because it seems that changes in one’s retina may afford glimpses into the brain- in particular to whether Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases have taken hold in the patient.
It seems that the neurons in the retina are just as likely to experience neurodegenerative disease as those in the brain. Except these neurons are far more accessible.
The problem is that once we know the brain has experienced neurodegenerative decay, it’s often too late for treatment. Noting the shift includes PET imaging (running $3K to $6K a pop)- and these are fairly invasive.
Dr. Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui (Cedars Sinai LA) has been leading groups for years examining the possibility of non-invasive retinal screening to provide information about these neurodegenerative diseases. From the proof of concept article in JCI Insight in 2017 (Retinal amyloid pathology and proof-of-concept imaging trial in Alzheimer’s disease) to the more recent article in Science Daily (Retinas: New potential clues in diagnosing, treating Alzheimer’s.) All of which have demonstrated that retinal screening is non-invasive, inexpensive ($285 a clip)… and remarkably sensitive.
Patients prep for a retinal exam with protein shakes spiked with curcumin (material that yields turmeric its distinctive color)- which loves to accumulate in amyloid beta deposits, the component in Alzheimer’s plaques. Then, with the administration of blue light, the compound glows yellow. These deposits have been associated with lower cognitive scores, considerable brain plaques, reduced hippocampus volume (among other physiologies.)
Dr. Ruogo Fang (U of Florida), building on the research of Dr. Koronyo-Hamaoui, presented results at the Radiological Society of North America, which correlated her findings with the presence of Parkinson’s disease. She found that the blood vessels in the retina demonstrate neuronal death, resulting from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The death is related to oxygen deprivation. However, the vascular changes can also be caused by diabetic retinopathy or traumatic brain injury. So, better algorithms must be developed to truly discern Parkinson’s disease.
Until we can fully discern the differences, the best we can do is use these tests for screening programs.
But, they are a start.
How very interesting. My mom had Alzheimers, such a cruel illness for both the patient and loved ones. I just had eye tests last week, doctor is watching the curve on one of the tests for glacoma which my dad had.
I was surprised- and pleased- this could be done, too, Martha!
What a very interest article. I had no idea they could do this with just an eye test. I am legally blind and have my eyes test all the time.
Maybe they can add this to your protocols, Brenda!
I am getting the impression that the “taking pictures every year” may be using a device like the OptoMap (sp?) that my eye doctor uses – I pay extra for that each year but it’s worth it. But if it is more like the testing equipment my late mother in law needed for yearly tests after she was treated for melanoma of the eye, I know such devices can’t be found within 3 hours of where I live, at least as of 2018. The trip was arduous for her given she was in her late 80’s and had multiple health conditions. I wonder how common the device you are blogging about is, because this would be wonderful.
Alana recently posted..Blue Sky Tree #ThursdayTreeLove
I’m hopeful this will become a valuable tool, too, Alana.