Sudhakar Jha
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Written By: Sudhakar Jha | Published : August 19, 2018 1:22 PM IST
Tips to get rid of eye infections. © Shutterstock
Thinning of the lining of nerve cells in the back of the eye retina has a strong link with Parkinson's disease, says a new study that can boost the diagnoses to detect the disease in its early stages.
According to the new study, the thinning of the retina is linked to the loss of brain cells that produce dopamine, a substance that helps control movement. And movement is one of the first indicators of the Parkinson's disease that impairs mechanical abilities.
"Our study is the first to show a link between the thinning of the retina and a known sign of the progression of the disease the loss of brain cells that produce dopamine," said Dr. Jee-Young Lee, from the Seoul National University in South Korea where the research was done.
"We also found that thinner the retina, greater the severity of the disease. These discoveries may mean that neurologists may eventually be able to use a simple eye scan to detect Parkinson's disease in its earliest stages, before problems with movement begin," Dr. Lee added.
The study, published in the journal Neurology, involved 49 participants who had an average age of 69 years, and were diagnosed with Parkinson's disease two years earlier, but were yet to start medication. The other group involved 54 individuals without the disease who were of the same age group.
The researchers studied each participant with a complete high-resolution eye scans as well as PET scan to find that retina thinning, most importantly in the two inner layers of the five layers of the retina, were connected to Parkinson's disease. The researchers also found that the thinning of the retina corresponded with the loss of brain cells that produce dopamine and the severity of the disease.
Image source: Shutterstock
