Retinal imaging in Alzheimer’s disease
Open Access
- 9 June 2021
- journal article
- review article
- Published by BMJ in Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
- Vol. 92 (9), 983-994
- https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2020-325347
Abstract
Identifying biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) will accelerate the understanding of its pathophysiology, facilitate screening and risk stratification, and aid in developing new therapies. Developments in non-invasive retinal imaging technologies, including optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography and digital retinal photography, have provided a means to study neuronal and vascular structures in the retina in people with AD. Both qualitative and quantitative measurements from these retinal imaging technologies (eg, thinning of peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer, inner retinal layer, and choroidal layer, reduced capillary density, abnormal vasodilatory response) have been shown to be associated with cognitive function impairment and risk of AD. The development of computer algorithms for respective retinal imaging methods has further enhanced the potential of retinal imaging as a viable tool for rapid, early detection and screening of AD. In this review, we present an update of current retinal imaging techniques and their potential applications in AD research. We also discuss the newer retinal imaging techniques and future directions in this expanding field.Funding Information
- Bright Focus Foundation (A2018093S)
- SEEDS Foundation Ltd (N.A.)
- National Medical Research Council Singapore (NMRC/CG/NUHS/2010, NMRC/CG/013/2013, NMRC/STaR/016)
- The Richard Desmond Charitable Foundation via Fight for Sight (Grant code 1965)
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore (DUKE-NUS/RSF/2014/0001)
- Health and Medical Research Fund, Hong Kong (04153506)
- EPSRC (M005976/1)
- The Alcon Research Institute, Fort Worth, Texas, USA (N.A.)
- The International Glaucoma Association, Ashford, UK (N.A.)
- NIHR Global Health Research Unit “INSPIRED" (16/136/102)
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