Dementia symptoms: a sign in the eyes will indicate a sharp decline in brain function

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Dementia is considered a relatively slowly progressive disease for which there is no cure yet. The main priority for scientists and doctors remains the prevention of the condition and its early diagnosis. According to new data, thinning of the retina can indicate the development of the disease.

According to scientists, this condition is associated with a “sharper” decline in cognitive functions. More than 400 people participated in the study.

Subjective decline in cognitive functions or the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease precedes moderate cognitive impairment. Therefore, scientists are working on expanding the range of biomarkers to diagnose the disease as early as possible.

In the new work, researchers studied the parameters of the thickness of the retinal layer and their potential connection with the future development of dementia. As a result, it was found that with thinning of the nerve fiber layer of the retina, a sharper decline in brain function and a higher level of cognitive impairment are observed.

“We assume that a thinner layer of nerve fibers of the retina RNFL is able to predict the decline of cognitive functions. In general, the thickness of the RNFL can be considered as a non-invasive eye biomarker for the purpose of assessing changes in cognitive function in patients,” the scientists said.

The retina is considered an extension of the central nervous system, so it attracts the attention of scientists in the study of neurodegenerative disorders. Today, the main biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease are beta-amyloid and tau protein, which are detected by blood tests.