Eye health found to be linked to dementia risk

Scientists from the University of Otago (New Zealand) have made a potentially breakthrough discovery in the field of dementia diagnosis. According to their research, the condition of a person's eyes can serve as an important indicator of the risk of developing this neurodegenerative disease. Specialists have established that changes in retinal microcirculation can act as early harbingers of the threat of dementia development.

During the scientific work, researchers focused on blood vessels located in the back of the eye. These vessels, as it turned out, are able to reflect pathological changes characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. In particular, it was found that narrowing of arterioles and widening of venules in the eyes correlates with an increased likelihood of cognitive impairment.

Dr. Ashley Barrett-Young, one of the key authors of the study, exercised scientific caution, emphasizing that the results obtained are still at an initial stage and it is premature to implement them in everyday medical practice. However, she noted that these findings open promising prospects for creating more accessible and effective methods for early diagnosis of dementia.

The use of eye scanning technology as a biomarker for identifying people with an increased risk of dementia could become an essential tool, allowing treatment to begin in the early stages of the disease, when it is most effective.

The significance of this research is underscored by the fact that it is based on materials from the longest health study in New Zealand's history. The results of the scientific work were published in the authoritative scientific journal Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, which testifies to the high level of the conducted research.