A thinning retina may serve as an early warning sign for frontotemporal dementia, particularly for individuals with a genetic disposition to the disease. Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes and University of California, San Francisco have found that cell loss in the retina occurs long before cognitive signs of dementia are apparent.
This discovery may allow for changes in the retina to be monitored when determining the efficacy of treatments for dementia. It may also allow for early treatment of dementia based on little more than an eye examination.
There are a number of reasons to visit your eye doctor on a regular basis, not the least of which are changes to the retina. General eye exams are an important part of your routine healthcare, becoming increasingly important as you age. People over the age of 65 should visit one of our Pennsylvania locations at least once a year for thorough eye examinations and tests. This enables us to detect possible issues early on and provide treatment before vision loss occurs.
If you are overdue for a routine eye examination, please contact Northeastern Eye Institute today. We maintain offices in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Dallas, Pennsylvania to better serve the needs of people living throughout our state.