Alzheimers Res Ther: There are biomarkers in the eye that indicate neurodegeneration.

September 23, 2020 /--- A new study led by researchers at Boston Medical Center shows that a biomarker called neurofilament light chain can now be detected in the eye that can be used as a marker for early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases.
nerve wire light chain is a protein previously detected in cerebrospinal fluid and blood, and the role of this biomarker in detecting neurodegeneration is being explored.
results, published in the journal Alzheimer's Research and Therapy, lay the foundation for future research into the potential of the biomarker to accelerate the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are the result of the loss of function of nerve cells in the brain or peripheral nervous system over time, which eventually leads to cell death.
, although there are available ways to address the physical and mental symptoms associated with these diseases, there is no known cure.
"One of the biggest priorities of Alzheimer's research is to develop a way to diagnose the disease before symptoms begin, which will help with early treatment to help stop the progression of this deadly disease," said Dr. Manju Subramanian, an ophthalmologist at www.pixabay.com.
" currently, neurodegenerative diseases are diagnosed on the basis of clinical manifestations and diagnostic tests, and once symptoms appear, the disease is already developing.
biomarkers are a major focus of research into neurodegenerative diseases, as they are expected to serve as a way to detect the presence of disease at an early stage based on clues found in other parts of the body.
previous studies have determined that amyloid beta and tau proteins are biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease and have been found in cerebrospinal fluid, blood and eye fluid.
for the study, the researchers collected eye fluid samples from 77 patients who had previously undergone scheduled eye surgery at Boston Medical Center.
63 per cent of the subjects were male, with an average age of just over 56.
results showed that glass body fluids in all 77 patients had a Neurofilament light chain, and that the level of the biomarker was associated with levels of other biomarkers known to be associated with Alzheimer's disease, including amyloid B and tau proteins.
light chain levels were not significantly associated with eye disease, which meant that these levels did not appear to affect the clinical eye condition of patients.
(bioon.com) Source: Biomarker indicating neurodegeneration in the eye Information Link: Original source: Subramanian, M.L., Vig, V.Chung, J. et al. Neurofilament light chain in the vitreous humor of the eye. Alz Res Therapy 12, 111 (2020). doi.org/10.1186/s13195-020-00677-4 Original link: