Eye test may detect Parkinson’s before symptoms appear

Researchers at University College London have found early testing on animals has produced a method of detecting changes in the eye that could identify Parkinson’s disease before its symptoms develop.

The scientists examined rats and found that the retina was an early biomarker of neurodegeneration in an induced model of Parkinson’s disease. This confirmed retinal ganglion cell changes and alterations in thickness of the retina using optical coherence tomography.

The researchers then treated the rats with rosiglitazone, an anti-diabetes drug, which reduced the death of retinal cells and may also have a protective effect on the brain, prompting them to suggest the drug as a possible treatment for Parkinson’s.