13.02.2025 Eye movement as key: new method improves early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease

Marburg Medical and Physics Bring Together Their Expertise in an Innovative Eye-Tracking Study

Eye movements, pupil size and blinking - according to a study, certain reactions of the eyes can be early warning signs for neurodegenerative diseases.

Eye movements, pupil size and blinking: A recent study by Marburger Forschender found that these three parameters are sufficient to identify the potential risk of developing Parkinson’s disease or related neurodegenerative diseases. The three parameters can play an important role in early detection of Parkinson’s disease and possible therapeutic countermeasures. This is what researchers from the University of Marburg Medical School led by Professor Wolfgang Oertel and postdoctoral researcher Dr. Mahboubeh Habibi from the Neurophysics group. You report about it in the current issue of the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1877718X241308193).

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) are becoming more common, but the early distinction between PD and similar, albeit rare disorders like multi-system atrophy (MSA) remains a major clinical challenge. Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for the development of treatments that can slow down the progression of the disease and improve the quality of life of patients* in the future.  

The current study has now shown that non-invasive measurement of eye movements could play a key role in detecting Parkinson’s disease and related conditions. The new method measures eye movements, pupil size and blinking to detect possible brain dysfunction.  

In the study, eye movement behavior was compared among individuals with Parkinson’s disease, MSA and isolated Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder (iRBD) as well as healthy controls. Sleep behavior disorder is a condition that carries a high risk for the development of Parkinson’s disease or MSA, doctors* know.

„The results were astounding," says one of the study’s two lead authors, Prof. Wolfgang Oertel, senior professor at the Department of Neurology at the University Hospital Marburg and the Philipps-Universität Marburg. Both Parkinson’s disease and MSA patients showed altered eye movements and abnormal pupil reactions in control subjects. Importantly, iRBD patients showed similar changes in pupil size to Parkinson’s patients, suggesting that these changes could serve as early warning signs for people at risk of Parkinson’s. “

„Eye tracking offers a powerful, non-invasive way to improve diagnostic accuracy," says the study’s first author, Dr. Mahboubeh Habibi. This could improve the way we identify risk subjects and monitor disease progression, enabling earlier interventions and improving outcomes for patients.  

„With better diagnostic tools, researchers* can test new treatment approaches more effectively and thus potentially change the course of these devastating diseases", says Prof. Dr Frank Bremmer, head of the Applied Physics and Neurophysics Working Group at the Department of Physics at the Philipps-Universität Marburg. This study, which was developed as part of an International Research Training Group with Canada, gives hope for earlier recognition and a better future for people affected by Parkinson’s disease and related diseases. “

original Publication:
M. Habibi, et al (2024)
Saccade, pupil, and blink abnormalities in prodromal and manifest alpha-synucleinopathies.
Journal of Parkinson’s Disease (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1877718X241308193).