Alzheimer's disease in the eyes
The results of a study conducted by scientists from Duke University, led by Dr. Sharon Fekrat, indicate that a decrease in the number of blood vessels in the retina may be a manifestation of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, in the future, a quick check of the condition of the eyeball will allow not only to determine visual acuity, but also to assess the state of the brain.
In total, more than 200 people took part in the study. In 133 participants of the control group who did not have brain pathologies, microscopic blood vessels formed a dense network in the posterior part of the eyeball inside the retina. At the same time, in 39 patients with Alzheimer's disease, this vascular network was less dense, and in some places completely thinned. Certain changes were also detected in people with mild cognitive impairments, which are often precursors of Alzheimer's disease. Differences in vascular network density remained statistically significant even when adjusted for various factors, including age, gender, and education level.
Different groups of researchers studied retinal changes that are potentially manifestations of brain pathology, such as thinning of retinal nerve fiber layers. According to the authors, changes in the vascular network of the brain in Alzheimer's disease are a well-known fact and, since the retina is an extension of the brain, the detection of such changes can potentially be used to diagnose the disease.
In their study, they used a new non-invasive technology known as optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCTA). The device for this procedure allows using light waves to obtain clear detailed images of blood vessels in each of the retinal layers. Changes in such tiny capillaries, whose thickness is half the thickness of a human hair, occur long before the larger vessels, visualized using magnetic resonance imaging and brain angiography, suffer. In addition, the advantages of OCTA technology are its non-invasiveness and low cost of the procedure.
The ultimate goal of the work is to adapt OCTA technology for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease before the appearance of obvious symptoms of the disease, such as memory loss, as well as its use for monitoring changes in the condition of patients during clinical trials of new potential treatments.
Article by Stephen P. Yoon et al. Retinal Microvascular and Neurodegenerative Changes in Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment Compared with Control Participants is published in the journal Ophthalmology Retina.
Evgenia Ryabtseva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru Based on Duke University Health System: Could An Eye Doctor Diagnose Alzheimer's Before You Have Symptoms?