While there are still some details that need to be confirmed for its clinical use and its accuracy needs to be slightly improved, a study has indicated that a method commonly used for ophthalmological tests can also be used to monitor the neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s patients. The research suggests that the neurodegeneration of the retina may occur before cognitive impairment.
Although there are still some aspects pending confirmation for its use in the clinical setting, and its resolution needs to be improved slightly, a study by the UPV/EHU and Biobizkaia has discovered that a method commonly used for conducting eye exams can also be utilized to monitor the degeneration of nerves in Parkinson’s patients. The study revealed that retinal degeneration likely occurs before cognitive impairment.
When someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s or another neurodegenerative disease, they often ask questions like: “What happens next? What can I expect from the disease?” Neurologists find it challenging to provide precise answers to these questions because the progression of the disease varies greatly among patients.Over time, some people with Parkinson’s disease experience cognitive decline or become wheelchair-bound,” said Ane Murueta-Goyena, a researcher in the Neurosciences department at UPV/EHU.
Currently, it is a significant challenge to identify Parkinson’s patients who are at risk of cognitive impairment. However, this is crucial for improving clinical treatments and increasing the number of clinical trials. Dr. Ane Murueta-Goyena, in collaboration with the research team at Biobizkaia, wanted to investigate “whether changes in the visual system can predict this decline and provide insight into the patient’s future over the next few years.” The thickness of the retinal layer could be a key factor in this prediction.
Optical coherence tomography was employed for this purpose.
The retina, located at the back of the eyeball, is associated with the nervous system and consists of multiple layers. In the study, the thickness of the innermost retinal layer in Parkinson’s patients was measured using optical coherence tomography. This type of tomography is commonly used in ophthalmological tests because it allows for high-resolution, repeatable, and accurate measurements. The evolution of this retinal layer was then analyzed and compared in individuals with and without Parkinson’s disease from 2015 to 2021. The results of the analysis of The UK hospital also confirmed the images of the retinal layers of Parkinson’s patients. The findings revealed that the retinal layer is significantly thinner in people with Parkinson’s disease. It was also noted that “the greatest neurodegeneration is detected in the retina during the early stages of the disease, and once the layer becomes very thin, a stabilizing of the neurodegeneration process occurs. Retinal thinning and cognitive impairment do not happen at the same time. The initial changes in the retina are more apparent, and then, over time, patients are seen to deteriorate clinically.”Murueta-Goya explained that the slow loss of retinal layer thickness is linked to faster cognitive decline and more severe disease progression. The researcher emphasized the importance of the results, noting that the proposed tool is non-invasive and available at all hospitals. The next steps include international validation of the results and potential improvements to the technology for monitoring neurodegeneration.Parkinson’s disease.” The scientist also mentioned that they are continuing their research on another group of patients and that securing funding is crucial.
