A recently concluded study indicates that a previously known biomarker used to confirm the presence of neurodegenerative diseases can be detected in the eye. Essentially, this helps to make complex diagnoses of diseases like Alzheimer’s much simpler, as these biomarkers were not easily found without major procedures beforehand.
The biomarker, referred to as a neurofilament light chain, is indicative of neurodegenerative disease. Typically, this biomarker is found in cerebrospinal fluid. Current research indicates that it is also present in the fluid of the eye, too.
This study came out of the Boston Medical Centers, with their results recently being published in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy.
Biomarkers are a common method of identifying the presence of some diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. However, because these biomarkers tend to be found in the brain, they were long regarded as difficult to identify until after the individual suffering from the disease has passed away. This new method of identifying biomarkers through the eye has long been suspected to be a helpful method of diagnosing these diseases. This study seems to confirm that those suspicions were correct.
This is good news because it ultimately means that diagnoses will be made earlier. While there’s no cure for these many of these diseases, it is widely believed that early intervention can help minimize the severity of symptoms of these diseases for longer. This can effectively help seniors dealing with these issues live a higher quality of life for a longer period of time.
When a loved one has a degenerative disease like Alzheimer’s, it can be incredibly hard to care for your family member in need. And because of the nature of this disease, it will grow increasingly tough to care for him as time goes by. A lot of families are able to provide that initial level of care as needed, but as the disease progresses, they find themselves struggling. Having help is important if you want to continue to provide a high level of care for the people that you love.
Identifying this need is just the first step, though. Knowing which resources are going to be the most helpful, and securing the assistance that your family needs to thrive comes next. We can help you to figure this out. We have a trained staff of caregivers that can help you to identify your family’s unique needs and then point you toward the resources that you’ll need to make sure that everyone has the support that will work best for them. We get that each situation is different. This is why we believe it is so important to take your family’s unique situation into account when creating a care plan.
So give us a call today. The sooner you get started, the sooner your family will have the care they need to thrive as they age. Our consultations are free and no pressure. You might find that we are the best resource for you, or you might decide that another type of care best fits your needs. The goal is to educate regarding what’s out there, and help get you pointed toward the resources that will help you the most.
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