A recent study suggests that eye scans powered by artificial intelligence (AI) have the potential to detect Parkinson's disease before symptoms appear. The research, conducted by teams from London's Moorfields Eye Hospital and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, utilized AI to analyze a dataset and identify retinal markers indicative of the condition. By comparing the physical differences in the eyes of individuals with and without Parkinson's, the researchers found that the method could potentially be used as a pre-screening tool. For the study, the scientists examined data from 154, 830 patients aged 40 and over who had undergone optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans in London eye hospitals between 2008 and 2018. In a separate analysis, they also assessed data from 67, 311 healthy volunteers aged between 40 and 69. The results revealed that individuals with Parkinson's showcased a thinner ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer and inner nuclear layer in their eyes. Importantly, these markers were identified an average of seven years before clinical presentation.

OCT scans, commonly used by opticians, provide detailed images of retinal layers, making them valuable for monitoring eye health. By examining these layers in the years prior to symptom manifestation, researchers believe the disease could be detected earlier. The potential impact on public health is substantial, as Siegfried Wagner, a clinical research fellow at Moorfields and a researcher at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, explains, "Finding signs of multiple diseases before symptoms emerge means that individuals could have sufficient time to make lifestyle changes to prevent certain conditions, and clinicians could also delay the onset and impact of life-changing neurodegenerative disorders. " According to Louisa Wickham, medical director at Moorfields, using imaging across a wider population could make a significant difference in public health by enabling predictive analysis. She adds, "OCT scans are more scalable, non-invasive, cost-effective, and faster than brain scans for this purpose. " The findings of this project, published in the medical journal Neurology by the American Academy of Neurology, have sparked optimism within the research community. Claire Bale, associate director of research at Parkinson's UK, comments, "Stopping the loss of precious brain cells by intervening earlier is key to preventing the condition. Since the eye scans analyzed in this study are non-invasive and already a routine practice, they can be readily implemented within the NHS. " Moorfields highlights that eye scans have previously revealed signs of other neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, and schizophrenia.