AI could help diagnose dementia through eye tests

Retired mechanical engineer, David Steele, 65, whose mother has Alzheimer’s, told BBC Scotland News that early diagnosis could have saved his family 10 years of heartache and struggle.

His mother had been going to the opticians regularly because her sight was getting worse.

She was initially diagnosed with macular degeneration, but this masked the underlying issue that they now know was cerebral blindness linked to Alzheimer’s.

Mr Steele said an earlier diagnosis of this condition would have made a difference.

“It would have been hugely impactful all round, but the biggest impact would have been for my father who was having to manage through the whole process of my mother’s decline,” he said.

“If the link could have been made 10 years ago it would have allowed my father to have a better life. It would also have allowed the family to prepare a pathway for mum becoming worse and worse.”

He added: “You might not want to know the message, but you do really need to know the message, then you can plan the rest of what’s going to happen to you.

“Anything that can be put in place early is really, really important because you’ve got to prepare for the moment it no longer becomes easy to manage life.”