AI-driven eye scans detect signs of Parkinson's disease early on

Screening for neurodegenerative disorders could help clinicians delay their onset by helping patients make lifestyle changes.

Researchers from Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London have harnessed artificial intelligence (AI) technology to identify markers in eye scans that can predict the presence of Parkinson's disease, on average, seven years before clinical symptoms become apparent. The study, published in Neurology, employed AI to analyze retinal images obtained through optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans. This AI-powered analysis, drawing on extensive datasets, detected abnormalities indicative of Parkinson's, allowing for early intervention strategies. The breakthrough not only highlights the potential of AI-driven "oculomics" in identifying neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's but also emphasizes the eye's role as a gateway to holistic health insights. This emerging field could enable individuals to make lifestyle adjustments to delay disease onset and clinicians to mitigate the impact of such conditions.

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