Eyes could indicate onset of Parkinson’s

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Author: Simge Eva DoganPublished: 22 August 2018

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Researchers at the Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea claim to have found a link between eyes and the onset of Parkinson’s.

The study – published in medical journal ‘Neurology’ – examined 49 people with Parkinson’s with an average age of 69. The participants had all been diagnosed with the condition in the past two years and had not started treatment. In addition, the researchers also studied 54 people in the same age group who did not have the condition.

From their tests, researchers found retina thinning in those living with Parkinson’s. This thinning corresponded with the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells.

Jee-Young Lee, the author of the study, said: “We found the thinner the retina, the greater the severity of the disease.

“These discoveries may mean that neurologists may eventually be able to use a simple eye scan to detect Parkinson’s disease in its earliest stages.”

To read more on this topic click here.

For more information on Parkinson’s related research please visit the EPDA website.

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A research team in Japan has suggested that around four hours of weekly moderate exercise is associated with a better clinical course of early-stage Parkinson’s. Their study, published in ‘Neurology’, drew on data from 237 people with the condition, whose symptoms were monitored over a period of up to six years. The research showed that people who were regularly active for at least one to two hours, one or two days a week, were better able to maintain daily activities than those who exercised less – and even experienced a “slower deterioration of processing speed”. The researchers highlighted that these benefits stemmed from maintaining regular exercise over time, rather than levels of activity at the onset of the condition. They added that their findings “suggest it may never be too late for someone with Parkinson’s to start an exercise programme”.

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Undergoing a traumatic brain injury (TBI) – a sudden injury that damages the brain – may be linked to Parkinson’s onset at an earlier age, new research suggests. The study, led by researchers in the US, examined data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Centre (NACC) database and assessed whether TBI was associated with age of disease onset, survival and the degeneration of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. They found that while there was no significant association with age of death or greater impact on dopamine-producing nerve cells, results showed that TBI was linked to a 4.9-year earlier age of Parkinson’s onset. Reflecting on the results, the researchers wrote that traumatic brain injury “appears to accelerate Parkinson’s onset without altering age of death”. However, the researchers also cautioned that “the nature of this relationship remains unclear”.

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Eyes could indicate onset of Parkinson’s

News

Author: Simge Eva DoganPublished: 22 August 2018

Prep: Cook: Serves:

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Tonya’s trends: ‘off the shoulder’ – a low-slung look on the up

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Tips for dealing with a Parkinson’s diagnosis

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Parkinson’s in the news: July

Regular exercise may slow progression of early Parkinson’s disease symptoms

Could traumatic brain injury accelerate the onset of Parkinson’s disease?

NASA astronaut who lived with Parkinson’s disease has died

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Eyes could indicate onset of Parkinson’s

News

Author: Simge Eva DoganPublished: 22 August 2018

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Related articles

Perspectives

Tonya’s trends: ‘off the shoulder’ – a low-slung look on the up

Resources & Tools

Tips for dealing with a Parkinson’s diagnosis

Global update

Parkinson’s in the news: July

Regular exercise may slow progression of early Parkinson’s disease symptoms

Could traumatic brain injury accelerate the onset of Parkinson’s disease?

NASA astronaut who lived with Parkinson’s disease has died

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