Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles Develops Retinal Scan to Detect Alzheimer’s Up to 20 Years Prior to Onset

Orange County, CA - August 23rd 2017 -  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California is leading the charge in Alzheimer’s detection. It is estimated that 1 in 8 people who are 65 and older have Alzheimer’s disease, and the number is expected to triple by the year 2050. In partnership with NeuroVision Imaging, a firm located in Sacramento, California, Cedars-Sinai has developed a retinal imaging system that can detect the onset of Alzheimer’s early on in the process. While studying cadavers, the team made an inspiring observation: the amount of beta-amyloid protein in the brain corresponded closely to the amount of that same protein in the retina, the back of the eye.

One of the most identifiable markers of Alzheimer’s is the excess of beta-amyloid protein in the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis tests and imaging techniques like positron emission topography are just some of the numerous tests available to monitor beta-amyloid levels in the nervous system; however, these tests are invasive, expensive, and not suited for repetitive screenings necessary to track disease progression.

We know that Alzheimer’s begins as many as 10 or 20 years before cognitive decline becomes evident, and we believe that potential treatments may be more effective if started earlier in the process. Therefore, screening and early detection is crucial to our efforts to turn the tide against the growing threat of this devastating disease,” says Keith Black, one of the researchers involved in the study.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles Develops Retinal Scan to Detect Alzheimer’s Up to 20 Years Prior to Onset

The Cedars-Sinai team developed a specialized ophthalmic camera and practical image-processing software to scan for beta-amyloid protein in the retina while conducting fluorescence imaging. This style procedure is notably less invasive than its predecessors. “As a developmental outgrowth of the central nervous system that shares many of the brain’s characteristics, the retina [offers] a unique opportunity to easily and conveniently detect and monitor Alzheimer’s disease,” said Black.

The scan is currently undergoing tests in clinical trials. The goal of these tests will be the identification of Alzheimer’s in patients in various stages of the disease and those who have yet to exhibit symptoms. The FDA recently approved a similar type of PET brain scan to help detect the presence of amyloid proteins in the brain. However, it was made clear by the researchers that these types of scans alone would be inadequate in diagnosing a patient with Alzheimer’s. These tests are an inspiring step towards the future of detecting the disease, especially since tests currently available can only be performed once symptoms have manifested.

A reliable eye test, "would be a very important contribution," says Maria Carrillo, the Vice-President of Medical and Scientific Relations at the Alzheimer's Association. "People tend to go to the ophthalmologist more frequently as we age. If you could add a quick test to see if neurogenic pathology is going on the brain, it would be really helpful." The full description of the study can be found on the Cedars-Sinai website under their Neurosciences Research section.

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Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles Develops Retinal Scan to Detect Alzheimer’s Up to 20 Years Prior to Onset Orange County, CA – August 23rd 2017 –  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California is leading the charge in Alzheimer’s detection. It is estimated that 1 in 8 people who are 65 and older have Alzheimer’s […]