One common problem with Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosing it. By the time many who have it are diagnosed, it’s too late to help.
However, in the future, a certain type of eye exam may be able to detect Alzheimer’s disease even in its earliest stages, according to emerging research within ophthalmology.
In one study published recently in the journal Ophthalmology Retina that included 200 people (some of whom had Alzheimer’s), the technology optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) found that those with Alzheimer’s disease showed a loss of small blood vessels in their retina. Although this study is not the first to find a link between OCTA imaging and signs of Alzheimer’s, it’s the largest study to date, according to researchers.
Additionally, other research has found that retinal exams may be able to detect beta amyloids—a kind of plaque found in those with Alzheimer’s—decades before it is found elsewhere in the body.
One major advantage of retinal testing is that it is less invasive and less costly than current tests for Alzheimer’s, which can include a spinal tap or a PET scan of the brain.
Both of these kinds of detection are in early stages of research, but you likely will hear more about them in the future. Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease yet, earlier detection give researchers more potential to study and understand Alzheimer’s. It also allows those with the disease to start on medications earlier to help manage symptoms.
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At Secure Aging in Bradenton, we transform the weight of the world into a sigh of relief for our senior clients and their concerned family members. The mission of Secure Aging is to protect and preserve our client’s independence and dignity through careful and thoughtful financial and care management. As our clients age, it is their desire to remain independent and age with dignity. Our services protect our clients from talented con artists looking to exploit and deplete the financial resources of our vulnerable seniors. Secure Aging helps families in Manatee County and Sarasota County and in and around the communities of Anna Maria, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Ellenton, Holmes Beach, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Myakka City, Palmetto, Parrish, and Sarasota. Call us at 941-761-9338, or visit us online at www.secureaging.com.
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