A simple eye examination and retinal imaging test may help improve diagnosis of a progressive neurodegenerative condition called frontotemporal degeneration (FTD). Neurodegenerative diseases, in general, are challenging to diagnose, and often are confirmed only by direct examination of brain tissue at autopsy. In a study published online in the journal Neurology , the scientists found that patients with FTD showed thinning of the outer retina - the layers with the photoreceptors through which we see - compared to control participants.The retina is potentially affected by neurodegenerative disorders because it is a projection of the brain.
Prior studies have suggested that patients with Alzheimer's disease and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) may also have thinning of the retina - although a different part of the retina. Thus, imaging the retina may help doctors confirm or rule out…
