Overview

• Université Laval researchers identified unique retinal electrophysiological patterns in early-stage Parkinson’s patients using electroretinography (ERG).
• Transgenic mice overexpressing human alpha-synuclein exhibited similar retinal impairments before motor symptoms appeared, reinforcing the findings' translational potential.
• The retina, as a direct extension of the central nervous system, offers a non-invasive method to detect early neurodegenerative changes linked to Parkinson’s disease.
• The study proposes routine retinal screening from age 50 to enable early detection, monitor disease progression, and evaluate therapeutic efficacy.
• Further research is underway to validate the specificity of retinal biomarkers across diverse populations and differentiate them from other neurodegenerative disorders.