How early dementia signs could be detected in routine eye tests

By Stephen Beech

Early signs of dementia could be detected in routine eye tests up to 20 years before symptoms appear, according to a new study.

Opticians may be able to spot tell-tale signs of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of the debilitating condition within the next few years just by looking into patients' eyes, say scientists.

American researchers have linked abnormal changes in the tiny blood vessels of the retinas of mice with a common genetic mutation known to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s - the most common form of dementia .

The findings, published in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia , build on previous work from the same team at the Maine-based Jackson Laboratory (JAX), which found similar vascular changes in the brains of mice.

The study linked abnorma