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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A simple eye scan could predict cognitive decline in multiple sclerosis patients — even without relapses. A 5-year Swiss study found that thinning of specific retinal layers was linked to worsening processing speed and memory in MS patients, independent of disease flares. Researchers say OCT scans could serve as a noninvasive, easy-to-obtain biomarker for neurodegeneration in MS.
A new study published in the Journal of Neurology suggests that a routine, noninvasive eye scan could help predict cognitive decline in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) — even when the disease isn't actively flaring. Researchers from University Hospital Basel followed 98 MS patients over a median of 5 years, using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to measure retinal layer thickness at baseline and tracking cognition annually.
The findings showed that thinning of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) predicted worsening in processing speed and verbal memory, respectively. Notably, the macular inner nuclear layer (mINL) told two different stories: a thicker mINL predicted declining processing speed, while a thinner mINL predicted worse verbal learning and memory.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: Cognitive decline is common in MS but difficult to anticipate early. If validated in larger studies, OCT — already widely available in clinical settings — could become a practical tool for identifying MS patients at risk of cognitive worsening before symptoms become apparent.
