14 DAY TRIAL // A group of investigators from Cedars-Sinai’s Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute say that they have recently developed a new method of detecting Alzheimer's disease early in its progression. This is important because its effects can be mitigated significantly through early discovery.
Beta-amyloid plaques, caused by the accumulation of the beta-amyloid protein in the brain, are a hallmark of the condition. However, by the time they are detected in the brain via PET scans or other methods, the neurodegenerative condition has already set in, PsychCentral reports.
The new study by Cedars-Sinai researchers shows that beta-amyloid plaques also develop behind the retina, a layer of the human eye that is an extension of brain tissue. More importantly, plaques develop here before they appear in the brain, meaning that a simple test could reveal the emergence of early-stage Alzheimer's in at-risk populations.
“Preliminary results suggest the optical imaging device may be extremely predictive, possibly providing earlier detection than other methods, yet the test is quick, far less expensive, completely noninvasive and painless,” explains the director of the Institute, Keith Black.