A new study has found that Parkinson's disease can be detected early using artificial intelligence (AI). Scientists from University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital have identified markers of Parkinson’s in eye scans with the help of AI. The study has been published in the journal Neurology. "This is the first time anyone has shown these findings several years before diagnosis, and these results were made possible by the largest study to date on retinal imaging in Parkinson’s disease," the university has said in an official statement.
Eye scans can determine several health complications
Eye scans and data from eye tests have been useful in determining health markers including neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia. These data have been useful in revealing health complications like high blood pressure; cardiovascular disease including strokes; and diabetes.
“I continue to be amazed by what we can discover through eye scans. While we are not yet ready to predict whether an individual will develop Parkinson’s, we hope that this method could soon become a pre-screening tool for people at risk of disease," Lead author Dr Siegfried Wagner (UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital), who is also principal investigator of several other AlzEye studies, said.
“Finding signs of a number of diseases before symptoms emerge means that, in the future, people could have the time to make lifestyle changes to prevent some conditions arising, and clinicians could delay the onset and impact of lifechanging neurodegenerative disorders," he added.
Tremors in hands is the first sign of Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system. One of the first signs of Parkinson's disease is tremors in hands. In due course of time, the tremors might cause stiffness and slow the individual's movement. "In the early stages of Parkinson's disease, your face may show little or no expression. Your arms may not swing when you walk. Your speech may become soft or slurred. Parkinson's disease symptoms worsen as your condition progresses over time," as per a report available on the website of MayoClinic.
This study is relevant to Parkinson's treatment. It can help in early diagnosis of the disease from an eye test. The study opens up a route to a better diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease, which otherwise is based on the change in behaviour pattern of the individual.
