---
title: Can retinal scans track Parkinson
nct_id: NCT07720765
status: RECRUITING
sponsor: IRCCS San Raffaele
study_type: OBSERVATIONAL
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT07720765"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07720765"
last_fetched: "2026-07-22T14:00:27.854Z"
source: "Parkinson's Pathways (curated)"
---
# Can retinal scans track Parkinson

**Goal (in five words):** Can retinal scans track Parkinson

**Official Title:** A National, Monocentric, Prospective Cohort Study to Evaluate the Utility and Applicability of Optical Coherence Tomography in Neurological Clinical Practice

**Trial ID:** [NCT07720765](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07720765)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** RECRUITING
- **Study Type:** OBSERVATIONAL
- **Sponsor:** IRCCS San Raffaele
- **Target Enrollment:** 1050 participants
- **Start Date:** 2023-10-09
- **Completion Date:** 2030-04-01
- **Conditions:** Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer Disease, Parkinson Disease, Migraine, Headache Disorders
- **Interventions:** Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) - Heidelberg SPECTRALIS HRA+OCT
- **Intervention Types:** DEVICE

## Summary For Families

They are looking at whether a quick, non-invasive eye scan can help diagnose and monitor Parkinson's by measuring small changes in the thickness of the retina over time. The test is optical coherence tomography, or OCT, a clinically approved imaging device that automatically and reliably measures different retinal layers; scans are done at the start and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, and those retinal measurements will be compared with standard movement scores (the UPDRS), brain scans, and lab markers. Adults with Parkinson's who are 18 or older and able to attend the visits may join, provided they do not have other eye disease that would affect the results and can follow study instructions. Because loss of retinal nerve cells has been seen in Parkinson's, the team hopes OCT could become an accessible, repeatable tool to help with diagnosis and tracking over time.

## What This Actually Involves

**Placebo** _(From the protocol)_: This is an observational study, so there is no placebo and no experimental treatment is assigned. Researchers observe and collect information while you continue your usual care.

**Visits** _(From the protocol)_: Participants will undergo OCT at baseline and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of follow-up.
  > "840 patients with Central Nervous System neurological diseases (Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, migraine/headache) and 210 age-matched healthy controls will undergo OCT examination at baseline and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of follow-up at IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy."

**Procedures** _(From the protocol)_:
- MRI scan (Non-invasive)
  > "Undergo OCT at baseline and follow-up visits alongside standard neuropsychological assessments, brain MRI, PET, and CSF biomarkers as part of routine clinical care."
- Thinking & memory tests (Non-invasive)
  > "Undergo OCT at baseline and follow-up visits alongside standard neuropsychological assessments, brain MRI, PET, and CSF biomarkers as part of routine clinical care."

**Washout** _(Ask the coordinator)_: Ask the coordinator whether you would need to stop or pause any of your current medications before or during the study (a washout period), and for how long.

**Travel & reimbursement** _(Ask the coordinator)_: Ask the coordinator whether travel, parking, or your time is reimbursed or compensated, and what is covered.

_Fields marked “From the protocol” come from the trial's registry record or quoted protocol text. Fields marked “Ask the coordinator” are not reliably available and should be confirmed directly._

## Eligibility at a Glance

Key requirements found in this trial's official criteria, in plain language. Only what the listing states is shown; the study team makes the final call.

- **Disease stage:** Stage 1 on the Hoehn and Yahr scale
- **Healthy volunteers:** Also accepts people without Parkinson's (healthy volunteers) (criteria text: "CT.gov structured field: healthyVolunteers")

## Eligibility

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

### Full Criteria

```
Inclusion Criteria for neurological patients:

1. Diagnosis of a Central Nervous System neurological disease (inflammatory diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis; neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease; migraine/headache) according to currently accepted diagnostic criteria for each condition.
2. Age greater than 18 years.
3. Signed informed consent to study participation.
4. Willingness and ability to undergo all study visits and procedures.

Inclusion Criteria for healthy controls:

1. Absence of neurological disease.
2. Age greater than 18 years.
3. Signed informed consent to study participation.
4. Willingness and ability to undergo all study visits and procedures.

Exclusion Criteria for neurological patients:

1. Refusal to participate or withdrawal of informed consent.
2. Known or confirmed ocular pathology identified during examination (ophthalmological evaluation may be requested at the investigators' discretion).
3. Inability to understand instructions given by investigators.
4. Presence of any condition that, in the investigators' opinion, renders the subject unsuitable for the study.
5. For specific imaging modes using clearly visible light sources (MultiColor, FA, BAF): diagnosis of epilepsy or history of previous epileptic seizures.

Exclusion Criteria for healthy controls:

1. Refusal to participate or withdrawal of informed consent.
2. Known or confirmed ocular pathology identified during examination.
3. Inability to understand instructions given by investigators.
4. Presence of any condition that, in the investigators' opinion, renders the subject unsuitable for the study.
```

## Locations (1)

- IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele - Neurology and Neurophysiology Unit, Milan, Milano, Italy _(42.7824, 12.5984)_
  - Federica Agosta, MD, (CONTACT), 0226433051, agosta.federica@hsr.it
  - Roberto Santangelo, MD, (CONTACT)
  - Massimo Filippi, Prof, MD, (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)
  - Federica Agosta, MD, (SUB_INVESTIGATOR)
  - Roberto Santangelo, MD, (SUB_INVESTIGATOR)

## Central Contacts

- Federica Agosta, MD, (CONTACT), 0226433051, agosta.federica@hsr.it
- Roberto Santangelo, MD, (CONTACT)

## Making Contact: How to Call This Study Site

### Who to ask for

Ask for the study coordinator. Some sites call this person the research coordinator. They are the right person for questions about joining a study. If you reach a front desk or a doctor's office scheduler, ask them to connect you with the research team for this study.

### What to say

It is fine to read this out loud, word for word:

> Hello, my name is ____. I am calling about a Parkinson's study at your site. The study number is NCT07720765. It is the one about "Can retinal scans track Parkinson". Could I speak with the study coordinator about taking part?

If you are calling for a family member, use their name and mention that you help with their care.

### What they will ask you

- The year of diagnosis
- Current medications and their doses
- Other health conditions
- Any procedures already done, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS)
- How far you are able to travel for study visits
- Whether a care partner can come to visits with you

### What to have ready

- A written list of current medications and doses
- Your neurologist's name and phone number
- The diagnosis date. The year is enough.
- A recent visit summary from the neurologist, if you have one

### What to ask them

- How many visits are there, and how long does each visit take?
  The listing already answers this: Participants will undergo OCT at baseline and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of follow-up. Ask the coordinator to confirm it still applies.
- Is travel, parking, or my time reimbursed?
- Is there a placebo group, and what is my chance of being in it?
  The listing already answers this: This is an observational study, so there is no placebo and no experimental treatment is assigned. Researchers observe and collect information while you continue your usual care. Ask the coordinator to confirm it still applies.
- Would I need to stop or pause any of my current medications?
- What happens when the study ends? Could I stay on the treatment if it helps?

### What to expect

- Expect to wait a few days for a callback. A week is common. Calling or emailing again after that is fine and normal.
- Many callers do not end up joining. Screening out is common and is not a judgment about you or your health.
- Asking questions commits you to nothing. You can stop the process at any point.

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT07720765*  
*HTML version: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT07720765*  
*Source data: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07720765*