A cohort study led by Chunyang Pang and Yaojia Li from the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University found specific retinal changes associated with an increased risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Analyzed through optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans from nearly 54,000 participants, the study revealed that a thinner photoreceptor layer and thicker retinal pigment epithelium were independently linked to higher ALS risk. The research underscores potential noninvasive retinal imaging for early ALS detection and suggests ongoing investigations into the retina's role as a biomarker for neurodegenerative diseases.

Source: PLOS Medicine