Alzheimer’s Society comment on eye test to monitor death of cells on the retina

The study, which appears in Cell Death & Disease, used specific dyes that bind to cells on the retinas of animals that had been modified to develop some aspects of Alzheimer's disease. They then observed these cells and monitored the stage and type of cell death. It is believed this is the first time cell death has been monitored in retinas in live animals.

'We know as Alzheimer's disease develops, cells in the brain die and the brain shrinks. The study of this disease has been hampered by the difficulty of following the progress directly in the human brain.  This research is very exciting as it opens up the possibility of observing individual cells on the human retina using a relatively non-invasive procedure. In the longer term this technique could be used for diagnostic purposes or to help researchers monitor the effects of drugs under development. However, much more research needs to be done before we know if we can get to this stage.

'A million people will develop dementia in the next 10 years yet research remains drastically underfunded. If we can delay the onset of dementia by five years we can halve the number of people who will die with the disease.'

Dr Susanne Sorensen
Head of Research
Alzheimer's Society

Ends

Study reference: 'Imaging multiple phases of neurodegeneration: a novel approach to assessing cell death in vivo' by Prof Fracesca Cordeiro and Prof Stephen Moss et al. Cell Death and Disease journal

Notes to editors

• One in three people over 65 will die with dementia
• Alzheimer's Society research shows that 700,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In less than 20 years nearly a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051.
• Alzheimer's Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and the millions of people who care for them. 
• Alzheimer's Society works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Alzheimer's Society needs to raise money to help people live well with dementia today and for research to find a cure for tomorrow. You can donate now by calling 0845 306 0898 or visiting alzheimers.org.uk 
• Alzheimer's Society provides a National Dementia Helpline, the number is 0845 300 0336 or visit alzheimers.org.uk