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MEDTECH Study Reveals Significant Changes in Retinal Structure and Function in Parkinson’s Patients, Offering Insights into Disease Progression
A new study has unveiled significant alterations in the retinal structure and function in adults with Parkinson’s disease. Conducted by scientists at Beni-Suef University in Egypt, the research highlights the retina’s potential role as a biomarker for disease progression and severity, thereby opening new avenues for diagnosis and treatment.
HCN Medical Memo
These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive eye examinations in Parkinson’s patients. The retina may serve as a valuable biomarker for monitoring disease progression and assessing treatment efficacy. This could lead to more personalized treatment plans and potentially slow the neurodegenerative process affecting both the brain and the retina.
Key Points
- The study found a significant impact of disease duration on the thickness of the retina in Parkinson’s patients.
- Retinal function was found to correlate with the degree of disability in these patients.
- Noninvasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) and electroretinography (ERG) were used to measure retinal thickness and function, respectively.
- Among the 50 Parkinson’s patients studied, 64% were men with a mean age of 60, and the mean disease duration was about 3.6 years.
“These results, therefore, reflect the presence of progressive degeneration in the retinal layers with disease progression and indicate that the neurodegenerative process runs in parallel in the brain and the retina in [Parkinson’s].”
– The Researchers
Additional Points
- The study compared retinal structure and function in Parkinson’s patients with 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
- The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and the ganglion cell complex (GCC) were significantly thinner in Parkinson’s patients compared to controls.
- No relationship was found between RNFL and GCC thickness and disease stage, as assessed by the Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) staging scale, or the level of disability, measured with the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS).
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