Eye Movement Data Detects Parkinson’s and ADHD

Until now, detecting Parkinson’s and ADHD has been a challenge for doctors in their diagnosing process. With a proven tested method, doctors now use eye movement techniques to detect a variety of medical conditions with great accuracy.

In the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, doctors often struggle with making a diagnosis. However, recent studies have evaluated a test that has been developed over the last 10 years that could significantly change how we view the disease.

Shaking has often been considered the premier telltale sign that an individual has Parkinson’s disease. However, this first sign is thought to take years to display itself after the disease has already taken hold. Researchers’ current thoughts believe that an individual may be experiencing Parkinson’s disease decades before the first signs of debilitating motor symptoms appear.

Eye Tremor Indicators

Every person that has Parkinson’s disease will have a tremor behind their eyes. Knowing this, doctors test the patient while they wear a head device that monitors the movement of their eyes. The eye test requires that they follow a dot on a screen. Analyzing the data, the doctors can search for tremors. The test is also used to reconsider a misdiagnosis.

Doctors and research scientists would like to see this test become part of the tools used to screen patients’ medical conditions to either confirm or negate a diagnosis for Parkinson’s. The eye test is sufficient enough to be used for detecting other movement disorders including ADHD.

Lack of Dopamine

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a devastating nervous system disorder. Over time, because of it degradation, men and women lose their motor skills. PD, like other varieties of motor system diseases, develops because of a lack of dopamine-generating brain cells. Dopamine is known to allow nerve cells to completely and successfully transmit messaging that is used to control the movement of muscles. Without dopamine, the brain tends to scramble its commands, with the subsequent result being impaired muscular function.

The Progression of Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, chronic condition that has varying degrees of severity. Generally, Parkinson’s tends to affect individuals over the age of 50, although it has been experienced by younger adults, and in a few rare cases, even children. To date, clinical studies have not been able to identify the root cause for the lack of dopamine-generating cells. Additionally, no standard blood or laboratory test has been developed that can conclusively identify Parkinson’s.

The eye movement technique has provided new quantitative insights in deciphering various aspects of gaze control and attention span that seem to be affected by a variety of disorders including ADHD and Parkinson’s disease. The eye test is inexpensive, and allows the patient to be screened quickly and accurately for a variety of debilitating medical disorders.