Artificial Intelligence Can Predict Parkinson’s Disease Years in Advance, Researchers Say
By Alex Mitchell | August 22, 2023 | 7:43pm
London’s Moorfields Eye Hospital, in collaboration with researchers, has discovered that Parkinson’s disease can be predicted up to seven years in advance through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and eye scans. This breakthrough finding has the potential to revolutionize the treatment and management of the neurodegenerative disease.
For the first time, researchers have shown that certain signs and changes in the eyes can be detected several years before the actual diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. “This work demonstrates the potential for eye data, harnessed by the technology to pick up signs and changes too subtle for humans to see. We can now detect very early signs of Parkinson’s, opening up new possibilities for treatment,” said ophthalmologist Alastair Denniston from Moorfields Eye Hospital.
The high-tech 3-D scan, known as optical coherence tomography, takes less than a minute and provides an in-depth analysis of the retina down to a thousandth of a millimeter. This method allows researchers to observe changes in the retina, which serves as a minimally invasive window into the central nervous system. In contrast, detecting Parkinson’s through brain imaging is limited and not easily scalable.
The study found that Parkinson’s is associated with a reduced thickness in two optical layers of the eye: the macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform and the retinal nerve fiber. While this association has not been explored before, early findings in prodromal Parkinson’s disease support these results.
Researcher Siegfried Wagner expressed amazement at the potential of this AI breakthrough. Although it is not currently possible to predict whether an individual will develop Parkinson’s disease, this method could soon become a prescreening tool for individuals at risk. Early detection through eye scans could lead to lifestyle changes and interventions that could delay the onset and impact of Parkinson’s.
Furthermore, similar advancements in eye scans, known as “oculomics,” have enabled faster detection of other neuro-diseases and disorders, including Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, and schizophrenia. Detecting signs of these diseases before symptoms emerge allows for preventive measures and interventions that can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life.
The potential of AI in healthcare is expanding rapidly, and the use of eye scans to predict and detect neurodegenerative diseases showcases its transformative capabilities. As this technology continues to evolve, it offers hope for early intervention and improved outcomes for individuals at risk of developing Parkinson’s and other neurological disorders.