In what could be a major breakthrough in dealing with Alzheimer’s, British scientists believe that they have an inexpensive eye test that could detect the disease 20 years before the first symptoms.
The new test could allow for drugs to be given earlier to slow the progress of the disease. In the test, eye drops are used in the test to highlight diseased cells at the back of the eye.
Using eye drops that highlight diseased cells, the researchers found that the amount of damage to cells in the retina reflects the extent of brain cell death.
For the story, click here.
thanks TD.A, that is an interesting site.
The Daily Mail probably shouldn’t be used as a primary source for news about science or health… The article lacks a link to any real “science”. But the important line comes about half-way through – this technique hasn’t started testing in humans yet. We’re years away from this test being demonstrated as safe for humans, let alone having enough data to say that it actually diagnoses Alzheimers at all, let alone 20 years out. I certainly hope it does work out well, but this article is the usual commercial media “medical hype” – long on dramatic discoveries and very, very short on the critical facts.
Fans of Prof. Turley may also like the Bad Science blog, which rips apart lousy science reporting, primarily in the UK media:
http://www.badscience.net/
Interesting enough having the trolls here has shortned my time at the Proffs blog…I still love it but I no longer read every message…..so now a days if I pass bd and duh and tootie nonsense Im done much faster….I guess my work thanks you.
This thread is about an Eye Test for Alzheimers. Please stick to the topic of the thread.
The potential implications of early detection, both good and bad, are related and should be discussed further. A discussion about trolls and suggestions about a global warming thread are off topic, and must be considered an act of trollery.
StephenP and AY you are both correct. The nonsensical and truth-impaired trolls are a detriment to reasonable discussion on this site. We need an eye test to detect the trolls and send them to the corrections tab as indicated by StephenP.
Imagine not getting health care coverage because the test wasn’t executed in a timely manner or the results were positive. Cross our collective fingers the Bill passes.
I suggest, Professor Turley, a separate, permanent global warming thread, like the “corrections” tab, to which any troll activity is sent. Otherwise, the intentional hijacking will continue, degrading the blog.
Somethings in life are a little less certain than badman, duh jacking a thread.
If you have relatives suffering then you know. But, what can you do about it once it starts?
Watt du ya coll adear wit no I’s ?
I gut no I dear
Watt du ya coll adear wit no I’s stannin still?
I still gut no I dear