Hyderabad: A recent study has stated that an examination of the eyes could possibly show early tell-tale signs of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The paper, published in the Journal of Neurology of the American Academy of Neurology found that the loss of brain cells that produces dopamine can be identified with the thinning of the retina. The study found a link between the thinning of the retina and progression of the disease.
The average age of the participants who were studied was 69 years of age, and were not on medication. A total of 100 people were enlisted and a complete eye examination was carried out. This was followed by high resolution eye scans and the thickness of the layers of retina was recorded.
The researchers found that retina-thinning in the two inner layers of the five layers of the retina were markers of the manner in which the nerves were degenerating. The thinning was found in those with Parkinson’s disease but were still not diagnosed and put on medication. It was found that the innermost layer of the retina in one section of the eye had an average thickness of 35 microm when compared to the thickness of 37 mi.m in those who didn’t have the disease.
The researchers found that the thinning of the retina corresponded with the loss of brain cells that produces dopamine. There were 10 people in the study who didn’t have the disease and were found with less thinning and their retina layers matched the 47 mi.m mark while the average score of those who were 50 was found to be 1.5 mi.m.
Researchers noted that the thinner the retina, greater was the severity of the disease.
