New eye scan may detect onset of Alzheimer's disease

Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)May 6 2016

Early structural changes in the back of the eye — now visible with a newly developed eye scan — may indicate the onset of Alzheimer's disease. The research is being presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) this week in Seattle, Wash.

The new technique enabled scientists to detect the buildup of beta-amyloid (A) in the eye early in the disease's progression, potentially widening the window for treatment.

Alzheimer's is a progressive disease that degrades memory and other functions. A are plaques found in the brain of Alzheimer's patients and believed to be crucially involved in the disease.