Retinal imaging able to detect Alzheimer’s

Retinal imaging has the makings of a practical test for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease, according to latest research.

Australian science agency CSIRO reported on a major study  exploring the use of eye scans as an inexpensive, practical early detection method at the Association International Conference in Copenhagen this week.

Researchers from CSIRO, Edith Cowan University and NeuroVision Imaging recruited 200 volunteers from healthy people, mildly cognitively impaired people and patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

The trial involved two visits by the volunteers for retinal fluorescence imaging, between which they were asked to consume a dietary supplement containing curcumin, the bright yellow component of the spice turmeric, used in curries. Curcumin binds strongly to beta-amyloid plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's and fluoresces, making the plaques visible as bright spots in the second of the two eye scans.