Bell Let鈥檚 Talk has donated $1 million toward important research in Quebec that involves the use of retinal scans for early detection of mental illness.
The Fondation de l鈥橧nstitut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec (FIUSMQ), or the Quebec Mental Health Institute Research Center, said the donation will support 鈥済round-breaking鈥� research to detect early signs of mental illness in youth using electroretinography, an eye test used to detect abnormal functions of the retina. The research involves youth from families with a history of mental illness.
Because retinas are connected to the central nervous system, researchers have been studying the use of electroretinography, or ERG, as a diagnostic tool for understanding brain disorders.
鈥淭he eye is, in a sense, a part of your brain. So it becomes a sort of proxy of what may happen in your brain,鈥� Yves de Koninck, the scientific director of the Quebec Mental Health Institute Research Center, told 麻豆传媒 Channel Monday.
De Koninck said the retinal test works by flashing light into subjects鈥� eyes and examining the signal generated. Within that signal could be signs that a person is vulnerable to developing a mental illness, he said.
Researchers are looking for markers that could indicate a young person is at an increased risk for developing diseases like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and major anxiety.
鈥淚f we can detect these kids early on, we can really start following them, helping them,鈥� de Koninck said. 鈥淎nd the objective is actually to prevent the development of mental disease later on.鈥�
FIUSMQ announced the donation towards the research Monday, saying it is the largest-ever contribution to the institute from a private partner.
鈥淏ell Let's Talk is pleased to build on our investment in mental health in Québec with our donation to the Fondation de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec,鈥� Martine Turcotte, Bell鈥檚 Vice-Chair, Quebec, said in a news release.
鈥淪upport for new research is one of the 4 pillars of Bell Let鈥檚 Talk and there is no doubt innovation such as Centre de recherche du CIUSSS de la capitale nationale鈥檚 work to develop a tool for early detection of mental illness can make a significant difference in the lives of people at risk of mental illness.鈥�
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