Thursday, November 15, 2018
Retinal Imaging May Reveal Alzheimer’s Disease
Steve Verdooner serves as CEO of NeuroVision Imaging Inc., a private corporation that is developing digital imaging and related technology that may aid in the assessment of disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. As CEO, Steve Verdooner directs the Company’s efforts and manages collaborations with major pharmaceutical companies.
NeuroVision is participating in several clinical studies with an FDA cleared device and experimental software system that can detect autofluorescence in the retina to aid in the assessment of amyloid in the central nervous system. Studies are focused on comparing retinal scans versus amyloid PET scan in the brain. Beta-amyloid plaques are neurotoxic proteins which develop in Alzheimer’s patients and are deposited in the brain and retina.
Conventional diagnostic protocols involve analyzing cerebral-spinal fluid and amyloid PET scans for beta-amyloid plaque deposits in the brain. The technology and subsequent clinical study being developed by NeuroVision and present a potential alternative that could be less costly and invasive than conventional tools. Retinal imaging may detect Alzheimer’s markers, it could potentially be used to monitor the disease’s progression and response to pharmaceutical treatment.
With ongoing results of these various studies, and an influx of capital from investors, NeuroVision is working toward achieving regulatory approval for its retinal imaging technology.