Scottish researchers are developing a new AI tool that could help high-street opticians detect early signs of dementia. By analyzing retina photographs taken during routine eye exams, AI software could identify indicators of brain health, potentially spotting diseases before symptoms appear.
The NeurEYE research team, based at the University of Edinburgh with collaboration from Glasgow Caledonian University, has gathered nearly a million eye scans from opticians across Scotland, creating the world’s largest data set of its kind. Using this data, the team has developed an algorithm that can assess the health of the eye’s blood vessels, which may reveal early signs of neurodegenerative diseases.
The tool could be used by clinicians to detect conditions like dementia earlier than current methods allow. The eye’s small, fine blood vessels can reveal health issues sooner than other parts of the body. This could enable prevention or earlier diagnosis of conditions, offering patients more time to prepare for the future.
Professor Baljean Dhillon, co-lead of NeurEYE and a Clinical Ophthalmology professor at the University of Edinburgh, said, “The retina is a biological barometer of brain health. With simple, inexpensive equipment available in optician practices, a photograph of the retina can predict potential brain changes later in life.”
Dementia, which affects one in 14 people over 65 and one in six over 80, impairs memory, thinking, and speech. Early diagnosis is crucial, as it allows patients to receive treatment sooner and provides families time to adapt. David Steele, whose mother suffered from Alzheimer’s, emphasized how an earlier diagnosis could have alleviated years of hardship for his family.
He explained, “If the link could have been made 10 years ago, it would have allowed my father to live a better life and given the family time to plan for mum’s worsening condition.”
Optometrist Ian Cameron, who runs a practice in Edinburgh, explained that the eye provides unique insights into overall health. “The eye reflects all systems of the body, including the vascular system and even some neurological conditions. Regular eye tests are essential, as they help catch health issues early,” he said.
The NeurEYE team aims to have a prototype ready later this year, with plans to roll out the technology to opticians nationwide by 2026. Regular eye tests could become a key tool in the fight against dementia and other neurological conditions.
