Eye Scans and Alzheimer’s Disease

For those of us who have relatives who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, recent studies show hope for the future.

Two new studies suggest signs of Alzheimer’s disease are visible in the eyes before symptoms appear. Research by ophthalmologists at Duke University and in Israel show that a new, non-invasive imaging device can see signs of Alzheimer’s disease in a matter of seconds. The research showed that the small blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye are altered in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Even patients who have a family history of the disease but have no symptoms show these telltale signs. And they showed that they can distinguish between people with Alzheimer’s and those with only mild cognitive impairment. 

A new kind of precise and non-invasive imaging has assisted much of the recent research on the eye’s connection with Alzheimer’s. It enables physicians to see the smallest veins in the back of the eye, including the red blood cells moving through the retina.  

Because the retina is connected to the brain by way of the optic nerve, researchers believe that the deterioration in the retina and its blood vessels may mirror the changes going on in the blood vessels and structures in the brain, thereby offering a window into the disease process. 

At the moment diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease is a challenge. Brain scans are expensive and spinal taps can be harmful. Instead, the disease is often diagnosed through memory tests or observing behavioral changes. By the time these changes are noticed, the disease is advanced.

Even though there is no cure, early diagnosis is critical as future treatments are likely to be most effective when given early. Early diagnosis would also give patients and their families time to plan for the future.