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Polygence Scholar2023
Anushka Praveen's profile

Anushka Praveen

Class of 2026Pleasanton, CA

About

Hello! My name is Anushka Praveen and I want my potential Polygence project will be about neurodegenerative diseases: is it possible to revert them, and are there potential ways to revert/treat them. After writing a research paper, I'd love to create a podcast regarding the same topics and further explanations on it, and I'd really like to publish/present the paper and project.

Projects

  • "What are potential effective practices that can be taken to improve early detection, as well as methodical and efficient treatments for glaucoma?" with mentor Katie (Dec. 13, 2023)

Anushka's Symposium Presentation

Project Portfolio

What are potential effective practices that can be taken to improve early detection, as well as methodical and efficient treatments for glaucoma?

Started Apr. 12, 2023

Portfolio item's cover image

Abstract or project description

Glaucoma is a chronic neurodegenerative disease of the visual system. Over the course of the disease, deterioriation begins in the eye and spreads to the optic nerve, leading to eventual blindness if left untreated. This is likely caused by an increase in pressure due to improper drainage of fluids from the eye. Given that it houses the visual cortex, the occipital lobe of the brain also exhibits altered function as the disease progresses. The disease has various risk factors, including genetics, comorbidities, and old-age, although the definitive root is poorly understood. Assessment of various aspects of eye and optic nerve health can be utilized to diagnose glaucoma, however, these tests alone have been shown to not provide accurate objective results. There are a range of treatments available for glaucoma, although many come with harmful side effects and have varying efficacy. Given the lack of proper diagnostic measures and efficient treatments, there is a great need for improvement in these areas. In this paper, we will discuss potential approaches to improving both early detection and treatment of glaucoma. We will first review and summarize the current literature available on glaucoma diagnosis and treatment. Following that, we hope to study other brain changes seen in glaucoma patients and identify behavioral tests that can be used to recognize symptoms of glaucoma, later to be used for diagnosis. Lastly, we hope to explore technologies or methods that take advantage of the brain’s inherent visual processing abilities to potentially apply as a treatment for glaucoma.