---
title: Eye imaging detects Parkinson changes
nct_id: NCT03233646
status: RECRUITING
sponsor: Duke University
study_type: OBSERVATIONAL
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT03233646"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03233646"
last_fetched: "2026-05-10T14:05:43.916Z"
source: "Parkinson's Pathways (curated)"
---
# Eye imaging detects Parkinson changes

**Goal (in five words):** Eye imaging detects Parkinson changes

**Official Title:** Evaluating the Retinal and Choroidal Microvasculature and Structure Using Multimodal Retinal and Choroidal Imaging in Neurodegenerative Disease: iMIND Research Study

**Trial ID:** [NCT03233646](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03233646)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** RECRUITING
- **Study Type:** OBSERVATIONAL
- **Sponsor:** Duke University
- **Target Enrollment:** 2000 participants
- **Start Date:** 2017-07-20
- **Completion Date:** 2026-12-31
- **Conditions:** Alzheimer's Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Huntington Disease, Lewy Body Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), APOE-4 Positive, Traumatic Brain Injury, Concussion, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Down Syndrome, Neuro-Degenerative Disease, Normal Cognition
- **Interventions:** Retinal and Choroidal Imaging
- **Intervention Types:** DEVICE

## Summary For Families

The team is looking for signs in the retina and choroid that mirror Parkinson's-related brain changes, with the hope that simple eye scans could serve as an easy biomarker for neurodegeneration. They use noninvasive multimodal imaging to map tiny blood vessels and tissue layers in the back of the eye, and these scans do not involve any drugs or changes to Parkinson's medications. Adults 18 and older with Parkinson's can join, as can people with other neurodegenerative conditions and people without cognitive disease, as long as they can complete the eye tests. People with eye problems that would affect imaging or who had intraocular surgery other than cataract removal are not eligible.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 18 Years
- **Sex:** ALL

### Full Criteria

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults with neurodegenerative disease ((MCI, PD, AD, FTD, DLB, ALS, MS, HD, TBI, concussion, PTSD and other neurodegenerations as well as Down Syndrome)
* Adults without neurodegenerative disease

Exclusion Criteria:

* Inability to cooperate with or complete testing or other neurologic or age- related ocular conditions that would impact image acquisition.
* Eyes that have had intraocular surgery, other than cataract surgery.

If two eyes satisfy the inclusion criteria, both eyes will be included in the study. If one eye satisfies the inclusion criteria, the eye that qualifies will be included in the study.
```

## Locations (1)

- Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States _(35.9940, -78.8986)_
  - Sharon Fekrat, MD FACS FASRS — (CONTACT) — 919-681-3937 — imind@duke.edu

## Central Contacts

- Sharon Fekrat, MD FACS FASRS — (CONTACT) — 919-681-3937 — imind@duke.edu

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT03233646*  
*HTML version: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT03233646*  
*Source data: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03233646*