Eye test 'could aid Alzheimer's detection'

20 January 2010

A simple and inexpensive eye test could help detect and diagnose major neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s at an earlier stage than is currently possible.

Research by scientists at University College London (UCL) has demonstrated a new technique that enables the death of cells in the retina of the eye - linked to brain cell death - to be measured in real time.

The method, demonstrated in an animal model, could refine the diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders and help track the progress of disease. It could also aid the assessment and development of new treatments.

The technique uses fluorescent markers that attach themselves to the relevant cells and indicate the stage of cell death. The retina is then examined using a customised laser tool.

"Few people realise that the retina is a direct, albeit thin, extension of the brain," said Professor Francesca Cordeiro from the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology who led the study. "It is entirely possible that in the future a visit to a high-street optician to check on your eyesight will also be a check on the state of your brain."

The death of nerve cells is the key event in all neurodegenerative disorders, but it has not previously been possible to study cell death in real time. The new technique enables clinicians to observe the death of retinal nerve cells in patients. This could be critically important because if a disease is diagnosed in the earliest stages, its progression could be reversed with treatment.

"Currently, the biggest obstacle to research into new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases is the lack of a technique where the brain's response to new treatments can be directly assessed. This technique could potentially help overcome that," said Professor Cordeiro.

Although the study outlines the technique in animal models, the team are further along with work using the same technique to detect and assess glaucoma, and will be conducting their first patient trials later this year.

"The equipment used for this research was customised to suit animal models but is essentially the same as is used in hospitals and clinics worldwide. It is also inexpensive and non-invasive, which makes us fairly confident that we can progress quickly to its use in patients," said Professor Cordeiro.

Image: Human eye. Credit: Kate Whitley, Wellcome Images

Reference

Cordeiro MF et al. Imaging multiple phases of neurodegeneration: a novel approach to assessing cell death in vivo. Cell Death and Disease 2010 [Epub ahead of print].