Changes in the Retina May Predict Dementia

For people with a genetic predisposition to frontotemporal dementia, small changes in the retina may serve as an early warning sign. Researchers at the Gladstone Institutes and University of California, San Francisco have found that cell loss in the retina often occurs long before cognitive signs of dementia. This discovery may allow for the progression of the disease to be tracked through eye examinations and may even simplify determining the efficacy of various treatment methods.

According to lead investigator Li Gan, PhD, these findings serve the dual purpose of identifying retinal thinness as a pre-symptomatic marker of dementia and providing greater “understanding into the underlying mechanisms of frontotemporal dementia that could potentially lead to novel therapeutic targets.”

There are many reasons to maintain routine eye exams. Even if you are not experiencing any vision problems, these exams allow your eye doctor to identify early warning signs of numerous vision and systemic issues. Visiting your eye doctor once every two years through your 50s and once a year thereafter can help ensure prompt detection and treatment of potential problems and help protect clear vision well into the future.

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