Retinal changes can serve as an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease

Retinal changes can serve as an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease

A team of scientists at Indiana University Medical School of Medicine has found that an eye disorder that affects the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, may serve as an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease. Their results, published inAlzheimer's & DementiaProvide new insights into the potential use of retinal changes as early biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease, which could improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

The research was led by IU School of Medicine doctoral student Surabhi D. Abhyankar, MS, along with colleagues from the School's Departments of Ophthalmology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, and the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto. Their results suggest that the presence of the ApoE4 gene, known to increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease in humans, affects retinal function in mice, suggesting a direct link between this genetic variant and visual processing deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease.

The eye is a window to the brain, reflecting changes associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, and our study will help provide a simple diagnosis and potential intervention for Alzheimer's disease, improving patient outcomes and quality of life in the future. “

Ashay Bhatwadekar, PhD, associate professor of ophthalmology and principal investigator of the study

The research team used advanced imaging techniques to assess retinal structure and function in the mice. Compared to control groups, they observed significant changes in retinal thickness and electrical activity in biological tissues and cells. These results are consistent with clinical observations of retinal abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease patients and reinforce the relevance of this model for the study of disease triggers.

“Our study shows that in the APOE4 mouse model, retinal dysfunction occurs that mirrors aspects of Alzheimer's pathology,” said Abhyankar. “These results highlight the potential of retinal imaging as a non-invasive method to detect early neuronal changes in Alzheimer’s disease.”

Other study authors include Qianyi Luo, PhD; Gabriella D. Hartman, BS; Neha Mahajan, PhD; Timothy W. Corson, PhD; Adrian L. Oblak, PhD; and Bruce T. Lamb, PhD.

This research was supported by funding from the National Eye Institute and research to prevent blindness.

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