Retinal thickness predicts worsening of Parkinson’s disease

A study carried out by the University of the Basque Country and Biobicka showed that the method usually used to perform ophthalmic tests can also be used to control neurodegeneration occurring in patients with Parkinson’s disease. During the investigation it turned out that retinal neurodegeneration probably precedes cognitive decline.

When diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease or another neurodegenerative disease, patients wonder: what can you expect from the disease. However, this is not possible for neurologists. answer these questions accuratelybecause “the evolution of patients is usually very varied: some do not experience any changes over the years, while others end up with dementia or end up in a wheelchair,” he explains. Ane Murueta-GoyenaResearcher at the Department of Neurosciences at UPV/YSU.

Currently, identifying patients with Parkinson’s disease at risk of cognitive impairment is challenging, but is essential to clinical care. more effective clinical treatment and intensify clinical trials.

Retinal thickness to predict deterioration

In fact, Dr. Ane Murueta-Goyena, in collaboration with Biobizkaia research staff, wanted to test whether the visual system works allows us to predict this deterioration, that is, what the future can expect for the patient in a few years. For this retinal thickness used.

The retina is a membrane located at the back of the eyeball. neural and consists of several layers. In the study, the thickness of the inner retinal layer of a cohort of patients with Parkinson’s disease was measured using optical coherence tomography.

This type of tomography is a tool commonly used in ophthalmic examinations because it allows make repeatable and accurate measurements with high resolution. Thus, the evolution of this retinal layer was analyzed and compared in people with and without Parkinson’s disease in the period 2015-2021. The results of the analysis of images of the retinal layers of patients with Parkinson’s disease were also confirmed in a UK hospital.

Thinner retinal layer in patients with Parkinson’s disease

The results showed that the retinal layer noticeably loses weight in patients with Parkinson’s disease. It was also noted that in the initial stages of the disease It is in the retina that the greatest neurodegeneration is found. and from a certain point, when the layer is already very thin, a kind of stabilization of the neurodegeneration process occurs.

Retinal thinning and cognitive decline they don’t happen at the same time. “Initial retinal changes are more obvious, and then, over time, patients experience clinical deterioration, both cognitively and motorly,” explains Murueta-Goya. In other words, slower loss of retinal layer thickness is associated with faster cognitive decline. This slowness is due to greater severity of the disease.

Doctor provided great impact on results. “We have obtained information about the progression of the disease, and the tool we propose is non-invasive and available in all hospitals,” he said, although he clarified that the results must be confirmed internationally.

“By slightly improving the resolution of the technology, we will be closer to validating a method for monitoring neurodegeneration that occurs in Parkinson’s disease,” he said, adding that they continuation of studies on another group of patients and this funding is the “key”.