Cognoptix announced that it has developed a simple eye test that has the potential to change the way that Alzheimer’s disease is detected and managed. The company conducted a multi-site clinical trial of its Sapphire II eye test designed to identify Alzheimer’s disease patients via a beta-amyloid (Ab) signature in their eyes. By detecting a specific fluorescent signature of ligand-marked Ab in the supranucleus region of the human lens, Sapphire II achieved a sensitivity of 85 percent and a specificity of 95 percent in differentiating 20 patients who were clinically diagnosed with probable Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) from a group of 20 age-matched healthy volunteers.

The key to effective preventive therapy and treatment of Alzheimer’s is the creation of an “early warning system” for the disease, before it progresses to the point where treatment options are limited.