Tampa Bay Area Doctors Researching New Way to Detect Alzheimer's Sooner

A forthcoming clinical trial in the Tampa Bay area aims to diagnose Alzheimer's disease sooner, reports ABC Action News . The procedure uses standard optometry and opthalmology equipment to scan the retinas for possible disease markers, which doctors hope will allow Alzheimer's to be detected up to 20 years before manifestation of symptoms. BayCare's Stuart Sinoff and doctors at Butler Hospital in Providence, RI, will soon launch the $5 million trial to study this method, which in addition to being faster than standard Alzheimer's diagnosis is much less expensive. The retina scan is calculated to only cost about $50, versus $4,500 for the average positron-emission tomography scan. Physicians are seeking 330 participants between the ages of 55 and 80, ranging from low-risk and very healthy to those with memory issues and people with mild Alzheimer's symptoms. Each participant will be examined at four intervals over a three-year period, and each study visit includes an eye exam, a medical history discussion, cognition and memory tests, and measures of mood, walking and balancing, and sleep patterns.