A simple eye test reveals potential risks of developing schizophrenia
A research team in Switzerland has discovered that the risk of developing schizophrenia due to genetic factors is linked to a reduction in retinal thickness, reinforcing the idea that eye health and vision correlate with the likelihood of mental changes in patients.
The research team from the University of Zurich and the University Hospital for Psychiatry in the Swiss capital stated that the retina is part of the nervous system and serves as a natural extension of the brain. Therefore, this anatomical connection suggests that any changes in the brain may manifest in the eye.
The researchers relied on extensive data regarding retinal tests and genetic traits from the UK Biobank, which includes health data for over half a million people.
They found a connection between schizophrenia and reduced retinal thickness, although they noted that this link is limited and detectable only through extensive studies. They emphasized that changes in the eye that could indicate a risk of developing schizophrenia can be easily monitored, unlike complex tests that must be conducted on the brain to detect early signs of the disease.
The research team claims that the Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) test, a type of ultrasound imaging for the eye, can determine retinal thickness in just minutes.
Additionally, during the study, researchers discovered that many brain inflammation conditions caused by genetic factors could lead to changes in the eye’s retina, some of which are considered factors that exacerbate schizophrenia.
In statements to the scientific research website SciTech Daily, researcher Finn Rabi, head of the study team from the University of Zurich, said, “If this hypothesis is confirmed, medical intervention to treat these inflammations could enhance the chances of treating schizophrenia patients in the future,” highlighting that it is a severe disorder that alters the patient’s perception of surrounding reality.
