A groundbreaking study from the UK has suggested that eyes may offer an early glimpse into the onset of dementia, up to 12 years before symptoms appear. Researchers observed over 8,600 healthy individuals and found a link between subtle eye reactions and later development of dementia.
The study involved participants completing a simple visual test, where they had to quickly spot a triangle formed by three moving dots on a screen. Those who would later develop dementia consistently responded more slowly than others. Experts believe the answer lies in the brain’s architecture, with toxic amyloid plaques targeting regions associated with visual processing long before memory centers.
The findings have significant implications, potentially changing the way doctors screen for cognitive decline. Vision-related symptoms are already common in dementia patients, and impaired eye coordination has been linked to road accidents among elderly drivers. The study also highlights that patients with dementia often struggle to distinguish between colors, filter out distractions, and process faces in a unique way.
While the technology is still expensive and requires expert interpretation, the research raises hope for developing new diagnostic tools. Further studies aim to explore whether purposeful eye movement might aid memory retention and if simpler technologies can be created to utilize eye-tracking as a standard diagnostic method.
Source: https://www.news18.com/lifestyle/will-you-develop-dementia-your-eyes-can-tell-you-12-years-in-advance-says-study-ws-dkl-9404299.html